“This is beyond my understanding. What foreign country did it come from? Nothing that exists here even comes close. Amazing!” Similar thoughts were going through the mind of John as he wrote about the Father’s love in verse one of 1 John 3. See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. Occasionally, we can miss the absolute profoundness of a scripture for years. That’s the case with me concerning this verse. I’ve quoted it in lessons, sermons, and to myself when I felt worthless. Last week I came across insight in the original language on the word how great. It brought a new level of meaning regarding God’s love. The New Testament only used the word six times. It literally means ‘from what country’. People used the expression when they were so astonished at something they said it must have come from another country. “The Father’s love is so unearthly, so foreign to this world, that [John] wonders from what country it may come” (Stott). This love is not natural in humanity. Rather it can only originate from God flowing out of the very essence of who He is. This love only seeks the good of others not self-gratification.
Adding further strength to this verse is the verb has bestowed or better rendered has given. John choses a verb tense indicating God’s gift of love has become a permanent possession of the believer. Paul also wrote about God’s love and its strength. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:35, 38, 39).
God’s love is alien to humanity, even as we increasingly experience it, we will never fully comprehend its magnitude. Intellectually, it reaches beyond the scope of human languages to define or fully describe. His love for us began before creation and while we were still sinners. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love (Eph 1:4 MSG). But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). We can’t compare it to any level of human love because it so far exceeds it. The greatest earthly love we experience is the love for our spouse or children, but that love pales in light of God’s love. Jesus willingness to endure the pain and suffering of the cross is by far the most dramatic and noted manifestation of His love. However, it didn’t start or end there. We must also look beyond the cross and note other manifestations.
Immediately, after His resurrection, Jesus sought out Peter who had denied Him and ran away. Jesus demonstrated how great His love was by forgiving Peter and loving him as He did for the other disciples. Jesus’ manifestations began by Him coming to earth. David describes His eternal position and then explains the tremendous step down it was becoming a man. The Lord is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens. v5 Who is like the Lord our God, Who is enthroned on high, v6 Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in heaven and in the earth (Psa 113:4-6)? God must stoop down merely to look at the heavens and the earth. Jesus condescended even further coming to live on earth as a man. The Message Bible best captures Paul’s thoughts on Christ’s incarnation. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. v7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, v8 Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death-and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion (Phil. 2:6-8).
Jesus manifested His love by going through everything we do. He has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15). He understands our temptations because He has experienced all of them. Now, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted (Heb 2:18). Explanation of God’s love is impossible and I’m not trying to make you understand, but make you aware that His love for you is infinitely beyond any love you may experience from people. God’s love begins where human love ends. His unconditional love has only one condition—you must accept and receive it. Then you will begin experiencing it to a greater level. You may be a believer, but like me have limited His love by comparing it to human love.
Sustaining Word for the Week: God is love. It is as eternal and infinite as He is. You will never comprehend it. You can only experience it and with the assurance, you can never reach its end, even in eternity.