Never Alone

The Bread and the Wine

Tina Turner was a captivating and energetic performer. Her career spanned half a century, but her signature song was released in 1984: “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” This song portrays human attempts at love as futile and self-serving. Sounds like it was written from a well of deep pain and betrayal in the composer’s life.

Oh what’s love got to do, got to do with it
What’s love but a second hand emotion
What’s love got to do, got to do with it
Who needs a heart
When a heart can be broken

Many of us have experienced this same pain and betrayal from human love. In contrast, however, God’s love is defined and driven by sacrifice and servanthood. Jesus, whose love is perfect, displayed this love most completely on the cross. He held nothing back, and no self-defense was attempted – just humble submission to the will of the Father and His mandate of love for the world.(1) Our most profound reminder of this love was given on the night Jesus was betrayed.(2) Betrayal: “an act of deliberate disloyalty,” and the most heart-breaking word in the english language.(3)

When Jesus broke the bread and shared the wine with His disciples, he answered the question posed in this hit song. Love has nothing to do with dominance, control, pleasuring self, or seeking to gratify one’s own personal desires. Christ’s love serves, sacrifices, and pours out life for the provision of others.

On that night, when He broke the bread, we learned this about Jesus’ love – it is willing to sacrifice comfort and pleasure to make others whole.

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19

And Jesus, rather than walking in anger and offense toward those who perpetrated sin against Him, willingly poured out His blood in the offer of forgiveness.

“This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Luke 22:20

Turner sang, “who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?” Jesus died of a broken heart – broken by mankind’s sin and betrayal, hatred and selfishness. But His sacrifice was not in vain as he paid the price for our sin. Jesus shed His blood to provide a new way to have peace with the God of perfect love and to step out of darkness into His marvelous Light. He has taken our rightful penalty on the cross that we might live and know the love of God.(4) And now this love has set the pace for how we are to love others.

What’s love got to do with it? Everything. There is no greater love than this, “that a man lay down his life for his friends.”(5) Jesus said, “do this is remembrance of Me.” Once you experience this kind of love, it’s hard to forget. Only His love will satisfy forever.

Because He first loved me,
Pastor Steve

(1) John 3:16, English Standard Version

(2) I Corinthians 11:23, English Standard Version

(3) Vocabulary.com

(4) II Corinthians 5:21, English Standard Version

(5) John 15:13, King James Version