I love the Easter holiday! Even before I gave my life to Jesus, I looked forward to the Easter season. Most of the time, my sisters and I would always get new shoes; and, of course, the candy and Easter egg hunts were memorable.
I personally still enjoy Easter more than any other holiday, because now, I celebrate the resurrection of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. While Easter reminds me of a resurrection that proves the deity of Jesus Christ, victory over death and eternal life, it also reminds me of love.
When studying the Bible, one thing we should always consider is the “principle of first mention.” That is, when an important word or concept occurs for the first time in the Bible, usually in the Book of Genesis, the context in which it occurs sets the pattern for its primary usage and development all through the rest of Scripture.
It is interesting to note that the first time the word “love” is used in the Bible is in Genesis 22:2 – “Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
People are also reading…
It seems strange, at first, that “love” is first mentioned, not in connection with the love of a man for his wife, of a mother for her children, of brotherly love, of love for country, or even of man’s love for God. Instead, it is used of the love of a father, Abraham, for his son, Isaac.
To quote Henry Morris, “The deep love of a father for his only son (yet a father who is willing to slay him) is thus inferred to be representative of the most complete and meaningful concept of the very word ‘love’ itself.”
This might seem puzzling until we realize that in Abraham and Isaac God is giving us a beautiful picture of God the Father and God the Son. That Isaac is a type of Christ as Galatians 3:16 tells us, and that the experience of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah is representative of the offering of Christ on Mount Calvary as Hebrews 11:17-19 informs us.
So, the love of a father for his son represents the love of God for His Son. In the Old Testament, we discover the type.
However, in the New Testament we see the prototype. The first mention of “love” in all the Gospel accounts is fascinating. It is found in Matthew 3:17, “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The first mention in Mark is similar, Mark 1:11, “Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” In Luke, the first occurrence of “love” is found at Jesus’ baptism, Luke 3:22, “And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
But now, look where the first mention of “love” occurs in the Gospel of John. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Three times God shouts His love for His Son from the very heavens. But then, He tells us that He loved “us” so much that He was willing to sacrifice His only and beloved Son, in order that we might be saved.
How can you not be overwhelmed by this? We should all believe, we should all rejoice and we should all give thanks for the wondrous grace of God toward us!
In 1 John 4:9-11 (NIV), “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
What are you going to do with this information? There is an old phrase that states, “With knowledge comes responsibility.” Knowledge has been given to you about God’s love for you and what you need to do about it. You are now accountable.
To quote Billy Graham, “Remember, we must admit that we are sinners. We must turn away from our sins and to Christ. We must trust Him as our Savior and follow Him as our Lord. God promises that when we do this, He will save us and make us His children, and we will live with Him forever. Will you turn to Christ now?”
Steve Sager is pastor of Calvary Chapel, St. Helena.
'); var s = document.createElement('script'); s.setAttribute('src', 'https://assets.revcontent.com/master/delivery.js'); document.body.appendChild(s); window.removeEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); __tnt.log('Load Rev Content'); } } }, 100); window.addEventListener('scroll', throttledRevContent); }
Catch the latest in Opinion
Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!
