Jesus demonstrated God's love in so many ways during his earthly ministry. He will also accomplish an incredible blessing of love when he comes to take God's children home to be with him forever. However, the cost of those blessings is high — high for him, high for the Father, and high for those who follow him. Jesus left heaven, came to earth, and died a horrible death to provide these blessings. The Father withheld his power and allowed those he created to do such horrid things to his Son. So we must not be surprised at the powerful language Jesus uses here. His ministry calls for a decision, a radical decision, to be made. Either he is God with us, or he is an impostor. Either he is Christ, God's Messiah and our Savior, or he is delusional. Either he is Lord, King of our hearts and of all creation, or he is a liar. Making a decision about him is divisive. It will divide families and households. It will be politically incorrect because it doesn't allow for alternatives. As Jesus spoke to his disciples, he also speaks to us. If we decide for him, our decision will not make everyone happy and won't lead to everyone's liking us. A passionate disciple of Jesus will not be appreciated by all — maybe not by most — but will surely be appreciated and rewarded by God!