Big Love
Dear church family,
Recently, I was asked by Mr. Saunders (Principal of Midwestern Christian Academy) to give a Christmas message to our MCA students during chapel. As I thought about what to share with the students, I came across 1 John 4:9-11 in my morning devotions. Concerning what the birth of Jesus was all about, the apostle John wrote: “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
Through the incarnation of Jesus (God in human flesh), God purposed to reveal His redeeming love to the world. As I thought about how to explain to the students that Jesus was sent to reveal the greatness of God’s love, I also came across Psalm 36, where the Psalmist wrote: “Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 36:5-7)
God’s attributes are so awesome that the Psalmist points to the expanse of the heavens to describe how great God is. Concerning the loyal love of God, he writes, “Your steadfast love O Lord, extends to the heavens…”
In Job 41, God points to a large sea reptile, which could very likely be a species of dinosaur, to emphasize Job’s weakness in view of God’s greatness. If God created Leviathan (a sea dinosaur too big for Job to handle), then how great is God? Gripped by the transcendence of God, Job repented and dared not question God any further (Job 42:1-6).
In light of how all of God’s creation declares His glory and power, including dinosaurs, I dressed up in a dinosaur costume and asked the students in chapel, “What are dinosaurs known for?” One student answered, “They’re known for being big?” And then I said, “Do you know how big God’s love is? Bigger than a dinosaur.”
Recently, I was asked by Mr. Saunders (Principal of Midwestern Christian Academy) to give a Christmas message to our MCA students during chapel. As I thought about what to share with the students, I came across 1 John 4:9-11 in my morning devotions. Concerning what the birth of Jesus was all about, the apostle John wrote: “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
Through the incarnation of Jesus (God in human flesh), God purposed to reveal His redeeming love to the world. As I thought about how to explain to the students that Jesus was sent to reveal the greatness of God’s love, I also came across Psalm 36, where the Psalmist wrote: “Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 36:5-7)
God’s attributes are so awesome that the Psalmist points to the expanse of the heavens to describe how great God is. Concerning the loyal love of God, he writes, “Your steadfast love O Lord, extends to the heavens…”
In Job 41, God points to a large sea reptile, which could very likely be a species of dinosaur, to emphasize Job’s weakness in view of God’s greatness. If God created Leviathan (a sea dinosaur too big for Job to handle), then how great is God? Gripped by the transcendence of God, Job repented and dared not question God any further (Job 42:1-6).
In light of how all of God’s creation declares His glory and power, including dinosaurs, I dressed up in a dinosaur costume and asked the students in chapel, “What are dinosaurs known for?” One student answered, “They’re known for being big?” And then I said, “Do you know how big God’s love is? Bigger than a dinosaur.”
I went on to explain that on that first Christmas, “God’s big love came down to earth. The incarnation of Jesus is God’s big love come down in the flesh.” What is God’s big, four-dimensional love like? (Ephesians 3:14-19)
First, God’s big love sympathizes. Jesus came down to earth in a body of flesh to enter into our pain and suffering. Because of His big love, He wants us to know that when we hurt, He hurts. He wants us to know that He understands our pain and He cares for us. As God’s word explains, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Secondly, the apostle John explained that because of God's big love, He sent Jesus from heaven to earth to manifest, or reveal, His love (1 John 4:9). Jesus, Emmanuel, left the glories of heaven to come to us—to dwell with us up close and personal (John 1:14). God doesn’t want to be distant; He wants us to know an intimate and soul-satisfying relationship with Him.
Thirdly, God’s big love sacrifices. Jesus, God in the flesh, not only came into the world to enter into our pain, He took our pain. God sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10). Jesus absorbed the penalty for our sins to propitiate, or satisfy, the justifiable judgement of God on our behalf so that all who believe might receive the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 1:21).
The fourth and final dimension of God’s big love is that His love saves. Jesus came down to earth on a rescue mission. He came to seek and save the lost. His salvation frees us from sin not only to escape hell, but to bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18).
In the incarnation, Jesus was sent not only to dwell on earth, but to dwell in the hearts of all who receive Him as Savior and Lord. He went from the cradle to the cross so that His love could be manifest in and through us. Because He also rose again and conquered death, we can trust that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).
As I told the students while wearing the dinosaur costume, the next time you wonder how big God’s love is for you, remember that it is bigger than the biggest dinosaur, bigger than the tallest building, and it is deeper than the deepest part of the ocean. How marvelous, how wonderful is the Savior’s love to you and me. And as John concluded, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11)
May this Christmas season fill us afresh with wonder and amazement at God’s big love come down in the flesh and may His love compel us to love others as He has loved us to the glory of Jesus. Merry Christmas to all!
With big love,
Pastor Marco
First, God’s big love sympathizes. Jesus came down to earth in a body of flesh to enter into our pain and suffering. Because of His big love, He wants us to know that when we hurt, He hurts. He wants us to know that He understands our pain and He cares for us. As God’s word explains, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Secondly, the apostle John explained that because of God's big love, He sent Jesus from heaven to earth to manifest, or reveal, His love (1 John 4:9). Jesus, Emmanuel, left the glories of heaven to come to us—to dwell with us up close and personal (John 1:14). God doesn’t want to be distant; He wants us to know an intimate and soul-satisfying relationship with Him.
Thirdly, God’s big love sacrifices. Jesus, God in the flesh, not only came into the world to enter into our pain, He took our pain. God sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10). Jesus absorbed the penalty for our sins to propitiate, or satisfy, the justifiable judgement of God on our behalf so that all who believe might receive the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 1:21).
The fourth and final dimension of God’s big love is that His love saves. Jesus came down to earth on a rescue mission. He came to seek and save the lost. His salvation frees us from sin not only to escape hell, but to bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18).
In the incarnation, Jesus was sent not only to dwell on earth, but to dwell in the hearts of all who receive Him as Savior and Lord. He went from the cradle to the cross so that His love could be manifest in and through us. Because He also rose again and conquered death, we can trust that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).
As I told the students while wearing the dinosaur costume, the next time you wonder how big God’s love is for you, remember that it is bigger than the biggest dinosaur, bigger than the tallest building, and it is deeper than the deepest part of the ocean. How marvelous, how wonderful is the Savior’s love to you and me. And as John concluded, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11)
May this Christmas season fill us afresh with wonder and amazement at God’s big love come down in the flesh and may His love compel us to love others as He has loved us to the glory of Jesus. Merry Christmas to all!
With big love,
Pastor Marco