That thing called love
Thursday, February 22nd, 2007Alright, so it’s been quite awhile since I’ve written, and I know it’s been over a week since Valentine’s day, but I wanted to write a little bit about love. I’ve just been thinking a lot about it lately. Two weeks ago we did a podcast and talked about love, but my thoughts have continued on the subject and I have MORE TO SAY!
I was thinking the other day about one of my friends. He just…loves me. He does so much for me because he loves me, whether it be to spend too much on a rose for me for Valentine’s day, take care of me when I’m sick, or encourage me when I’m frustrated with school. There’s just this purity in his love for me that I’ve never experienced before. Every time he tells me he loves me, I know he’s honest and sincere. Every single time there is meaning behind his words. He makes me feel loved even though I know I don’t deserve it. There are times I can be so selfish and moody when I’m around him, but he looks past that and loves me anyway.
Now let’s rewind and look at the Bible. Hosea, under God’s direction, marries a prostitute named Gomer. She cheats on him…a lot. While Hosea is hurt, he still loves her and never seeks revenge. It’s kind of a parallel to what was happening with the Israelites at the time. Israel was being unfaithful to God. They were sinning and turning their backs on Him. God continued to love Israel, and welcomed His children back to Him with open arms, if they were willing.
In an historic Jewish courtship, the groom would offer a glass of wine to his bride during the betrothal ceremony. If the bride drank from the cup, it was symbolic of accepting the offer of marriage, establishing a covenant between the bride and groom.
Now, skip forward to the Last Supper. Jesus is surrounded by his disciples and is telling them there’s going to be a change soon. He breaks the bread, hands it out, and tells them that it represents his body, and to remember him. Then Jesus takes the wine and says, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20b).
Now think about that. Could that sharing of the cup and the establishment of a new covenant parallel the Jewish custom of marriage? The offer for the disciples is the same as His offer for us. He’s going to love us even if we don’t deserve it. Even if we act like Gomer. Even if we’re selfish and moody. He’s offering His pure, honest, sincere love for us. Are you going to accept His love?