How Great a Love

Copyright 2009 Gloria Fisher.
All rights reserved.

Perhaps the most poignant and amazing scripture about love is John 3:16. It was written by the apostle John and given to a world longing to know the love of God. The words of Jesus tell us more about God’s love for us than we could ever imagine on our own. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

John’s gospel tells us what Jesus said about the Father, and the Father’s love for His creation and for His people. How would we know that God would abide in His people if John had not written Jesus’ words in chapter 14, verse 23, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him." What other god makes such a claim? None.

What makes us both truly human and truly like God? Love for certain. It is love that unites us in a bond of fellowship with others. From the very beginning of creation God said: "It is not good that man should be alone." (Genesis 2:18) We were created in love for love -- to be a community of loving persons, just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are united in love.

Jesus speaks to His disciples of the inseparable bond of love between Himself and the Father, and of Their love for humankind. In Jesus there is the fulness of God's love and how God's love is directed to our well-being. "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might have life through Him. (1 John 4:9) How do we know that God loves us? In the cross we see the proof of God's love for us and the incredible price God was willing to pay for our redemption. Jesus gave up his life that we might have life, a life of love and unity with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit forever.

During this Holy Week take time to think about how much God loves you, about what He was willing to do to give you eternal life, so that you might dwell with Him forever.