The Greatest Love of All

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

                The use of the word “love” has become pretty trivial in our English language.  Don’t get wrong – sometimes it is used to express that deep-seated emotion that can’t be adequately expressed with words.  At other times, it is used in reference to trivial things.  We say, “I love pizza,” “I love seashells,” “I love my new notebook.”  If someone is truly in love with pizza, shells, or office supplies, they probably need to talk to a counselor.  We use the word “love” where it would be better to say “like.”

                Throughout the Gospels, Jesus never misused the word “love.”  When we come to John 15, He told us what love is really all about – “greater love has no one that this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  We have many modern examples of this highest and greatest form of love.  For instance, between 2006 and 2018, nearly 17,000 active military personnel lost their lives while defending our freedom – a good number of them in active combat.  They willingly laid down their lives for us!

                We can learn a lesson on love by looking at our soldiers, but we can learn the greatest example of love by looking at Jesus.  When Jesus spoke of one willing to lay down his life for his friends, clearly He was speaking of Himself.  There really is no greater love – the One who was totally God took on our corruptible human flesh and walked this earth with sinners and finally died on an old rugged cross for our sins.  If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is!  It’s not just any love – it’s the greatest love of all!