“I would die 4 U.”
I know what you’re thinking… “that Prince. All he did was make hits.” But gosh. Prince wasn’t the first one to tell us he’d die for us, was he?
Nope.
We say, “oh my gosh! It was so funny… I died! Or, “she was dying to know…” or “I would die to see that…” and even Prince said, “I would die 4 U.”
But man. To really die. For You.
It’s hard to imagine. At least for me it is. It’s hard to imagine taking a walk to the place where you would give your life to give the rest of all of humanity eternal life.
It’s hard to imagine that He said, “I love you so much. Every part of you. The part that is good. The part that is a sinner. And everything in between. I love it all.” And He didn’t even know us, did He? But HE knew His Father. He knew that His Father would continue to be the Master Planner of it all. And He trusted in that and said, “yep. I will go die on that cross if it means that I can do everyone else a huge solid.”
“I would die 4 U.” He told us. And then they NAILED him. Pierced his skin one. Nail. At. A. Time. And hung him to that cross.
Wow.
•••
He said He would die for US.
I am imperfect. I am a sinner. And Jesus died for ME. And YOU. Pretty big stuff, huh?
“I would die 4 U.” Sure. Prince said it. But first, it was declared by the ultimate Prince. The Prince of Peace. The one who was sent to save us and offer the gift of eternal life.
He said He would die for us. And HE did. And as the stone was rolled away, it was revealed that even though, “it was finished” as he hung on the cross, really, that’s just where the pain ended. The earthly struggle was finished. But. At the end of that… of the suffering… the heavy burdens… the sins… they were wiped away in favor of a life in HIS kingdom.
The rest of the year, I listen to the lyrics, “I would die 4 U” and I think, “maaaaan. The 80s were saweet.” But this week as I’ve had that song stuck in my mind, it’s because I have been focused on my Prince. My Prince of Peace. My Messiah. My Savior. The one who gave his life so that I might always live.
I was sick. I struggled. I have felt burdens. I have sinned. But I have also loved. And been full of joy. And in my earthly life… in all of our earthly lives, all of that will continue. But there is the promise that at the end of this, we will have ETERNAL life. ETERNAL. whoa.
He didn’t just say he “would” die for us. He did. He gave his life so that WE might live. I’d say that makes him the best Prince ever.
Thanks, Jesus. For believing in all of us. For giving your life. For dying. FOR US. You’re the real rock star.
{song lyrics credited to Prince. Dying on the cross credited to Jesus.}
