This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16

It’s incredible how similar 1 John 3:16 and John 3:16 are. John must have been having fun when he wrote the 2 books. And how central to Christianity and life these verses are. There’s a very good reason why John 3:16 is the best known verse of all time. When you look at the subject of love, an obvious place to start is that love does not originate with us, but with God. In fact, God is the definition of love because in 1 John 4:8 we are told explicitly that “God is love”! The biggest and best demonstration of love is depicted in what God did by sending Jesus to die on the cross for us and our sins. Concerning the cross, John says “This is how we know what love is”.

Let us not look to man for the definition of love. People will always come short. They will always let us down. They are imperfect. Are you looking for love in all the wrong places? Look at Jesus on the cross, his body broken and marred beyond recognition, covered in blood, bowing his head in death, under the weight of our sin and in the darkness as his Father turned away, not bearing to look upon our sin. Hear the distressed voice of Jesus as he shouts “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Consider that this was for your sake so that you might find eternal life, free from the power and effects of sin.

Don’t look further than the cross when you are wanting to understand love. Today, take time to look at the cross of Christ and to thank him for such sacrificial and perfect love. Say sorry for any times that you have looked for love in the wrong places. And ask him to teach you to love like he loves.

Comments

comments