The love of God for us is one of those topics that you could spend a lifetime exploring.

As believers, we often focus on the Crucifixion of Jesus to demonstrate God’s love.

And rightly so: Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross to redeem us from our sins was the epitome of extravagant love.

“God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8)

But I wonder if we give short shrift to the Incarnation.

The fact that God took on human form and walked among us for 33 years shows an astonishing level of love.

When Jesus came to earth, our story became His story. He chose to go through the same pain we do, and carry the same burdens we do.

He entered into the human experience at its fullest level, enduring hunger, thirst, fatigue, pain, betrayal, torture, and abandonment.

He shared in our sufferings out of pure love. He can truly empathize with us because He’s “been there” too.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

You’ve heard of people who’ve shaved their head in solidarity and sympathy with a family member or friend who’s lost their hair due to chemotherapy. They share the person’s suffering by voluntarily going through the same ordeal.

This is what Jesus did for us during His time on earth.

“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:17-18)

“Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God. Instead he gave up everything and became a slave, when he became like one of us.” (Philippians 2:6-7)

You could say that Jesus “shaved his head” for us when He took on human form.

If this isn’t love…I don’t know what is.

© 2025 Lori J. Cartmell. All rights reserved.