I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Some bibles are red letter bibles. The first red letter New Testament was published in 1899 with the first full red letter bible being printed in 1901. It means that everywhere that Jesus was speaking, the letters, or words, would be in red. This way it was easy to see when Jesus was the one talking. Many people like this distinction. It’s important to know and understand Jesus’ words.
I was talking with a friend yesterday and he was talking about a song. I can’t remember the exact song now, but I can think of another song about Red Letters. It’s by Crowder. Regardless, it got me thinking about the red letters. Why red? I don’t know the thinking behind the first red letter bible, but it seems a very fitting color. Red is the color of blood. It was Jesus’ blood that saved us all.
The song I can’t remember now, and can’t seem to find, has a lyric in it about red letters saying something very important. Three little words. Have you ever thought about the fact that Jesus’s words are in red, and the bible is the greatest love letter ever written? Do you know what it means? It seems to me that Jesus wrote “I love you” to us in red, in his blood. What a powerful way to say I love you!
Jesus hung on that cross, hands and feet bleeding. Cuts and scrapes bleeding. Side bleeding. All out of love for each and every one of us. We often joke about putting blood, sweat, and tears into things. Jesus literally did that. He put His blood, sweat, and tears into his last dying breath, all for love. Love for a world that was so willing to crucify Him. Love for sinners, like you and me. The love He had for each and every one of us was truly the greatest love there ever was. And Jesus still loves us, and always will.
How powerful it is to see red letters saying, “I love you”. Praise God for His love and for red letters that emphasize that love.