I Love You To Death

Pastor James C. Ward

February 1, 2026

Sunday Morning

Order Of Service

Communion Ritual

John 15:13

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Introduction

The phrase, “I love you to death,” means to love someone or something immensely. It implies that you cannot love the person or thing any more in the future than you do right now. It is love in the highest degree possible. It could also mean that you will love the person or thing until you die. In interpersonal relations, it could also mean that, “If need be, I will die to protect you from harm or danger.”

Many times, the phrase is just a hyperbole – an exaggerated statement. You may care, but not to that degree. Sometimes, it is a literal statement, and the person really means it. When mothers say that to their small children, it is usually a true statement. When they say, “I will knock you into next week,” now that’s hyperbole. Thank God, it is hyperbole. In our text, Jesus told His friends that He loved them to death, and that was a literal statement. He meant every word of it.

There have been many who have given their lives for others and for great causes. Soldiers, firefighters, police officers, civil right leaders, and many others have given the ultimate sacrifice. We honor and commend them, but none can compare to our Lord and Savior. Now, let’s look at our text.

Exposition

1. His Death Was His First Intention - Not His Last Resort.

(His Death Was In The Plan Before The World Was Created.)

(Others May Give Their Lives As A Last Resort.)

2. His Life Was Not Taken - He Freely Laid Down His Life.

(He Could Have Stayed In Heaven or Come Down From The Cross.)

3. His Statement Was A Promise Made And A Promise Kept.

(He Went To Calvary And Completed His Mission.)

(He Is The Only Martyr That Came Back To Life.

(The Mission Was Not Complete Without The Resurrection.)

Closing Thoughts

According to John 3:16 and Romans 5:6, Jesus came to die for the whole world. That means that He saw everyone as a friend – even His enemies. So, Jesus has two kinds of friends: saved and unsaved. I am glad I am one of the saved friends. At some point, His role will change, temporarily, from Friend to Judge. The saved friends will plead His blood and will inherit eternal life and dwell with Him forever. The unsaved friends – if we can use that term to refer to them at that time - will be separated eternally from Him.

The hard work has already been done. Jesus did it when He shed His blood on the Cross of Calvary. All we have to do is believe, repent, allow His blood to make us clean, and obey His commandments. Who wouldn’t serve and obey a God like that. He loved and loves us to death. But He rose early one Sunday morning!

Give God Glory! Give God All The Glory!

End Note

The Bible has far reaching influence. The willing sacrifice of Jesus influenced the ending of Charles Dickens’ novel, A Tale of Two Cities. As you remember from English Literature classes, the characters were caught up in the swirling insanity and rampant bloodshed of the French Revolution. In the final scene, the lawyer, Sydney Carton, took his friend’s place on the guillotine to secure his safety. Sydney Carton took the place of one person, Charles Darnay; Jesus took the place of millions.