Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. — John 15:13
Around the world, people will celebrate Valentine’s Day today. There will be numerous gifts given and many cards shared between people in a variety of relationships. It could be friends, it could be those who are married, and many times it is between those who say they are “in love” as we so often hear.
Our world paints love in a variety of ways that are often misleading. I have heard it said before that because someone did not get a big gift, they did not feel loved. I have heard it said that because someone did not go out for a nice meal or have a specific event happen, they did not feel loved.
We often paint our image of love after things we see on television or in movies. Sometimes love does involve these things that we see, but that is actually not the true image of love.
We have an amazing example of love that was given to us by Jesus Christ. Some will argue that this is not relative to Valentine’s Day, but it is more relative than any other example we can consider. As Jesus said here, there is no greater love than when someone is willing to lay their life down for another.
I may have often told my wife before marriage that I loved her, but I had no true grasp of the meaning of love or the depth of love at the time. Each and every day, my love for her grows. Sure, there is a feeling of love that is present when I see her. More than that, it is that I realize that I would do anything, including giving up my own life, for her.
But that is only part of the story here. I can certainly relate with the teaching of Jesus here for those who love me in return. Jesus took this one step further in that He was willing to die for those who did not love Him in return. Those who constantly reject Him, refusing to accept Him as Savior, and those who deny His very existence, He died for them too.
That’s the part that makes His example of love so amazing. Truly, there has never been a greater example ever known in this world. It is the greatest love ever known.