If you asked me to describe the purpose or message of the entire Bible, I would simply say, “It is love.” God has given us this amazing, centuries long story so that we have a tangible way to know him. The Bible is a collection of seemingly different stories spread across thousands of years, written by 40 different people, but when we put them together, we see that God influenced everything along the way to create one single story.

Through the Bible, we can see how God interacts with people, what makes him angry, what makes him rejoice, the things that break his heart, the justice he enacts, and his willingness to forgive. And every step of the way, everything God does is motivated by his love. This is put on full display in the life of Jesus. To start exploring this, we can look to the writings of one of his disciples, John.

1 John 4:9-10

[9] God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. [10] Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus’ mere presence on earth is an incredible testimony to God’s love. Just that Jesus would even leave heaven to come suffer on earth is huge, but that is not all he did. During his time here, he sought out and served the hurting, the diseased, and the outcasts. He cared for the people hated by society. Everywhere he went, he not only showed us God’s love, but he also taught the love of God. When the religious and political leaders of the time asked him what the most important command was, this is how he answered:

Mark 12:29-31

[29] Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [30] Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. [31] The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”

Do you see how these two commands are actually one and the same? They asked Jesus which singular command was the greatest, by his inclusion of a second command he has not only said that they are of equal importance, but that you can’t follow one without the other.

We have a long history of trying to separate the way we love God from the way we love people. Jesus came to set that right. He taught us that it’s not enough to say that we love God, because in order for that to be true, we must also show love to those around us. Another way that he communicated that is found in Luke 6.

Luke 6:32-35

[32] If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. [33] If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. [34] And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. [35] But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.

Here we see a love that is different. This is a love that is pure, love that is honorable and praiseworthy. God’s love is beyond us, yet thanks to the spirit in us, achievable for us. He is the one who teaches us how to love the ones who don’t love us, give to those with nothing to give back, and be good to the people who oppose us. Here we learn what unconditional love truly looks like. Our love is not to be determined by our circumstances, but defined by God’s character.

When we love others in this way, we are reminded that our hope is not found in this broken world, but in God himself. Paul remind us in Romans 5 that our hope is not in vain. Instead, our hope is secure because of God’s love. This is the hope that brings Christians joy. A joy that is full and complete because it is proven in God’s love.

Romans 5:5-8

[5] This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. [6] For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For rarely will someone die for a just person — though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. [8] But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The hope we have in Christ is inseparable from His love. We don’t hope without reason, and we don’t hope in undefined images or ideas. We hope in the God who has already proven His love through Jesus’ death and resurrection. His love gives our hope security.

Since we have hope, and we can rejoice that our hope is secure in love, we can proceed with sharing that love to others in confidence. As we follow in obedience, we constantly look to the fulfilled promise of his birth and the love it took for him to step away from glory. Then, we can remember that he has promised he will return again for us so that we too may be raised up in glory with him. We know that death has no hold on us because of the love of God. His love never leaves us.

God’s love is unlike anything else. It is sacrificial, unconditional, and eternal. At Christmas, we celebrate the incarnation of Christ, Immanuel – God with us. Jesus, though fully God, chose to humble Himself and take on flesh—not for His benefit, but for ours.

Because of this, Jesus’ command to love others so sacrificially is not some kind of burden placed on us, it is a privilege to live as he lived. It is a constant reminder to reflect on the way he has shown his love for us, until one day, when we finally make it to the day when this love will be fully revealed. At His second coming, Jesus will gather His people into eternal relationship with Him, where love, peace, and joy will never end.

Reflections:

(I strongly recommend using a journal to actually write out prayers and answer questions. something about having to write it down really helps me complete the thought and be committed to it.)

• How would you describe God’s love?
• How does that shape your understanding of what it means to love others?
• Where can you show God’s love to others today?
• Think of specific people you find it difficult to love, then list some ways you can demonstrate love to them.
• What can you do this week to reflect on and rejoice in the love Jesus has shown you?