For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 CSB

As we finish up this advent season, finding Christmas just four days away, we want to spend some time thinking about love in regards to Jesus Christ! A love that was perfectly displayed through Jesus’ birth, life, and sacrifice.

Before Jesus’ birth, God created mankind (starting with Adam) so that we may have a relationship with Him. He did not create Adam with the intention of separation between Himself and us, but our sinful nature took root and we, in our own strength, are powerless to fight it on our own. We are unable to make the right decision and so we reject Him day after day after day and YET He still has open arms just waiting for us to come back to Him. This is because He LOVES US SO MUCH.

From the fall (Genesis 3) on, God has given us chance after chance, lifeline after lifeline, throughout the entirety of the old testament, to help us be with Him forever.

For the Lord will not reject us forever. Even if he causes suffering, he will show compassion according to the abundance of his faithful love. For he does not enjoy bringing affliction or suffering on mankind. (Lamentations 3:31-33 CSB)

Jeremiah knew that God’s intention was to show us compassion and love, not to enjoy the difficulties we receive because of our sins. God is love, and because of His love, He gave us two major gifts: Salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and the ability to love our fellow humans in a way to point them to Christ as we await His second coming!

Jesus’ Birth/Sacrifice 

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17 CSB)

As we celebrate Jesus’ birthday, I always think about Easter that’s just a few months away. This baby, born in a manger, would die for us thirty-three years later. A heart-breaking reminder as we celebrate, but this baby was born for one purpose, and that was to save us.

Just like this verse says, God loves us, so He made a way for us to be with Him forever. Jesus came down fully God and fully human, living a perfect life, something no one else could ever do. Through this we are gifted salvation. 

When I had my son, I finally understood the “I would die for you” phrase. And there isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for him… but God did more than that, He sacrificed His son. I would do anything for mine, but not that. That is a love that is completely foreign to me. John 3:16 says that God "gave" his Son. "Gave" as in it was a gift. He literally loved you so much that He gifted Jesus for the main purpose of being the sacrifice for YOUR sins, even the tiniest white lie. 

I wouldn't give my son as a sacrifice for my husband, whom I love dearly. Yet God did that for you and for me. willingly. Not out of a sense of obligation but as a gift. What serious love.

No one can love us the way that God does, the way Jesus did while He was on this earth. But, through His example, we are able to mimic His love in our life.

Waiting for the second coming 

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35 CSB)

We can have hope, peace, and joy as we wait for Jesus to come back, as we talked about in the previous Advent posts, and now we can talk about the love we can share with each other as we wait. Waiting has never been my forte, I’m more of a “there’s no gifts under the tree because I gave them to you as they came in” kind of girl, but in regards to Jesus’ second coming, we don’t really have a choice.

Thankfully, Jesus didn’t leave us and say “figure it out on your own,” He made it very clear that we have a mission. We have to tell others about Him, to LOVE them by showing them the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He also promised He would be with us. 

The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20 CSB)

We aren’t alone in this period of waiting, we are called to grow the Kingdom of God, to lean on each other as brothers and sisters in Him, and to wait faithfully.

We don’t know when Jesus will be coming back, although with some of the craziness in the world, people think it’s sooner rather than later. We have so much to do, and all of these things are rooted in love, the same as Jesus coming the first time. Wrapped up and laying in a feeding trough, Jesus was love embodied. And now, that same love He brought down to us, we get to share with those around us.

Even though it’s awkward, use this season to share the Good News! Jesus came down to die for our sins, something no one else can ever do. All we have to do is call upon His name, ask for forgiveness, and repent of our sins, and we have salvation through Him. What a wonderful promise!