This is Love
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.—1 JOHN 4:9,10
The word “propitiation” means “satisfaction.” That is essentially what Jesus came to do, to be a satisfaction for our sins. Who had to be satisfied? God had to be satisfied. After all, sin is a violation of the holy Law of God. Sin is a violation of God. It is an act of treachery against Him. God, then, if He is to forgive the sinner, must have that violation and that justice satisfied. Jesus comes to be that satisfaction. God was perfectly satisfied in His Son. Do you remember that the Father said at the baptism of Jesus, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”? He said the same thing again at the Transfiguration. The Father was perfectly satisfied with His Son so that His Son could be the perfect satisfaction for our sins. How satisfied are you with Jesus? That’s such an important question and such a basic spiritual reality. The Father is perfectly satisfied with the Son; the Son is perfectly satisfied with the Father. And how about you? Are you perfectly satisfied with Jesus Christ? Is He your purest and truest satisfaction? Do you find your highest joy in Him? If you do, it’s going to have an impact on how you live your life. God is most pleased with us when we are most satisfied with His Son.