Jesus demonstrated His costly love by standing in the gap for us, trading places with us so that we can walk free! Not just in death, but many times throughout the New Testament Jesus gave living demonstrations of what He would be doing upon the cross: standing in the gap for the accused, re-directing punishment away from them and toward Himself time after time. Costly love is Jesus standing in the gap between us and our accusers, between us and danger, between us and obstacles to our pursuit of Him. Every time Jesus loved someone, it cost Him something.

The woman caught in adultery is a perfect example (John 8:2-11). The law said this woman was to be stoned. But Jesus shifted the Pharisees’ hostility, disgrace, and humiliation OFF the woman and redirected it towards Himself, shielding her from punishment and death. Jesus stood between her and the law and religion and stood His ground, armed ONLY with unconditional love. Jesus willingly bore her judgment to save her and give her life.

The enemy stands before the throne of God accusing US night and day. BUT Jesus holds a piece of paper in His hand. He has taken OUR penalty, OUR punishment, OUR Sin and borne it Himself. As they nailed His hands to the cross, He held onto that paper–in His hand–for us. Are we willing to exhibit costly love back to Him? To love Him in a world that doesn’t? To give costly love to another as Jesus did?