Why did Jesus choose to die on the cross?
How can we love the unlovely?
Jesus came to earth to die for us. However, we were unlovely and his enemies. What motivated him to do this?
Answer
Jesus died on the cross primarily because he loved God (and not primarily because he loved us). Jesus' love was first to his Father, then second to all the world. (John 14:31) When Jesus died for us, we were his enemies and were very unworthy of his love. God had existed eternally in perfect relationship. And so because of their (the Trinity's) love in this relationship, Jesus died on the cross as God asked him. Through this, he made it possible for us to be restored to relationship with God.
Jesus has asked us to love as he loved! But, there are so many unlovely people out there! - It may be easy for us to think that they don't deserve our love.
Jesus asked us to love others as he loved us. We can do this because we love him first. We can live the value system of God to others because first we are doing it to love Jesus. Then we are doing it to love them. Thinking this way stops us from thinking that there are any people who are unworthy of our love.
Because of our primary love for Jesus, we can love others.
See also How should we Love God?
The value system perspective used here is based on ideas from the work of Darren Twa.