Love, the Greatest Spiritual FruitSample

Love as Jesus Loves

As a theology professor, I encounter many people who wonder if theology is stale or useless, given the issues going on in the world around us. But so far in our devotional journey, you have already discovered just how helpful and relevant theology can be when it comes to enjoying God’s love, loving God in return, and loving the world.

For example, you have learned the concept of God’s simplicity. This theological idea helps you anchor yourself down in the love of God—a love that is who he is, not something he can gain or lose. Who knew a theological concept could offer such comfort and help and confidence? That it could stir up such affection or produce such good fruit? And that’s just one of countless theological truths that can help not just you but the world.

Consider another theological-sounding phrase: the doctrine of atonement. At first, this doesn’t sound all that related to the love the world seems to need, right? And yet, it is more than related—it is the highest demonstration of love the world could ever experience.

When we consider the famous teachings of Jesus in the gospels, we know we’re called to love God and love others (Matt. 22:36-40). We know that love for our brothers and sisters is proof of citizenship in the kingdom of God (Jn. 13:35). What does love look like? Is it just agreeing with everyone all the time? Or is there some other model we are to follow? How are we to love? Thankfully, Jesus clearly offers us the ”how”:

This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you (Jn. 15:12-14)

Do you see here how Jesus not only gives us the command to “love one another” but also offers us the model and motivation to do so? He doesn’t just say love one another in whatever way we fancy, but “as I have loved you.” So how did Jesus love us?

The answer to this important question comes in the next line and becomes our model and motivation for true love—Jesus laid his life down for us (15:13). Laying down one’s life for the sake of another—that’s the truest expression of love, according to Jesus.

This passage is getting at the doctrine of atonement, where a substitute takes the place of another to receive, in their stead, whatever ills are coming down the pike. This is what Jesus did for us on the cross, and this becomes the model by which we show love to others.

When you take the time to think about this theological concept, you’ll see just how much love is a part of it. After all, no one willingly takes the place of another without deep love as the motivating factor. And when we think of the kind of love the world needs, isn’t this it? Sacrificial love? Indeed, it is.

Before now, you may not have fancied yourself a theologian, but I suspect you’re beginning to realize that when Christian theology is done right—even on a concept as broad as love—it can change you. It could even change the world.