At the height of America’s debate in the summer of 2015 I saw a young adult walk into a Burger King wearing a t-shirt that said Love is Love.
The statement hit me between the eyes. I couldn’t shake the power of it. The t-shirt was clear and definitive. My stomach rumbled as the smell of the grilled Whopper and hot fries was calling for my attention. I walked away thinking, “How is love defined? By itself?”
I couldn’t get this saying out of my head for a long long time. So what is love? How can I really know? How can I know that love is real and not a mushy feeling?
I’ll admit it. I use the word love a lot. I mean, I love the Minnesota Vikings (most Sundays). I love black and red licorice eaten together (all the time). I love my wife Julie (I married out of my league).
I love a lot of things. How can I measure or assess love beyond just my idea or my biased point of view? There has to be something the direct object of God’s love (his bride, the Church) can offer for a culture that clamors and begs for love.
Or do we merely throw our hat in the ring, our opinion out for the pollsters and say, “This is what I believe.”
On a macro level of discussion, does each culture and generation and demographic come up with their own definition of love?
Around Valentine’s Day, February 14, love gets lots of air time. Florists score big, even on sports talk radio, by promoting flowers to show the one you love, “You matter. I care.”
As followers of Jesus, we see love directly and intricately linked to our Lord. Jesus’ suffering, death and glorious resurrection are “love proofs” of his movement toward us and his position next to us and his arm of victory around us. Love wants proof. The proof of our faith and hope which throbs of love is Jesus.
A former colleague of mine reminded staff and leaders—Jesus is both the person and promise. Jesus in the flesh is the promise of love we have longed and ached for.
A not-yet follower of Jesus who is reading this article may scoff and think that we assess all our “love proofs” on God’s Word and Jesus. That kind of thinking can be called “circular thinking.” Here is a picture of circular thinking…
As a follower of Jesus I am banking my whole life—my soul, my family, my dreams, my career, my livelihood—on one love proof: A Jewish carpenter who loved me was beaten and put to death. Because he loved me. This same carpenter went to hell, not as a prisoner bound in chains, but as a victor who had broken a curse against love.
What a lover! Can there be such a person who will never ever let us down?
To the scoffer or skeptic, we will be clear as we share this hope and faith we have in this one who truly loves us. The Jewish carpenter Jesus of Nazareth wasn’t an alien visiting us from another planet. The Jewish carpenter came from another cosmos, another true reality called heaven. He didn’t use language only celestial beings could understand. He used word pictures in common language so normal people like me and you could understand him and comprehend what love looks like.
He talked about farmers and crop seed, about a rebellious young adult eating pig feed. He talked about an unexpected hero who leaves an open tab at a hotel and says, “I am taking the bill for this victim’s assault.”
This lover Jesus, the Jewish carpenter, taught and preached in ways that would make hearts burn and even made men forget they were hungry after hearing a fabulous sermon. You thought that the only miracle of the feeding of the 5000 was the bread miracle? Guys, real men, forgot they were hungry because of a sermon! That was a miracle, too.
This lover Jesus came from another reality called eternity past and stepped into time. He came and forgave sins. He ransomed his soul on my behalf for my hang-ups, insecurities, sinful habits—and he swaps out his purity for my dirt. This lover Jesus, the Jewish carpenter, was sent by his Father on my behalf. He was a rescuer motivated by love.
The best part of this lover Jesus, the Jewish carpenter, is the extent of his love. This lover Jesus walks in the valley of the shadows. This lover Jesus walks in the valley, when there are shadows and death comes.
This one person upon whom we pin all our hopes and dreams—he really did live. His best friend whom he loved, called John, struggled with words to describe what Jesus looked like. He really did die. He really did rise again. And he really truly is going to come back in blow-your-mind glory to bring final justice.
Strong historical accounts, clear archeological finds, and stacks upon stacks of supporting documents and manuscripts give us confidence to humbly share about this lover Jesus who truly loves us and is soon returning for his beloved, the Church.
So Love is not Love. Love is outside me. Love is Jesus. Jesus is what love looks like and how love acts and how love forgives and how loves heals. The great love chapter in God’s Word, 1 Corinthians 13, describes what Jesus would look like if he were walking planet earth in 2016.
Love is ________ … Love is Jesus. He has proved that again and again. I love that.
Dr. Kirk Militzer serves as lead pastor of Bethesda Lutheran Brethren Church in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.