The greatest illustration of what it means to love radically, deeply, personally, passionately, practically, relentlessly, endlessly, sacrificially is what we see in Jesus, throughout his life, but most graphically, most poignantly in his death.

Jesus embraced not only the pleasure, but the pain of love in the real world. On the cross, we see when Jesus chose to love in the real world he chose to be vulnerable to the savagery beneath the civilised surface of the real world.

Jesus was resolute in his love. He absorbed the evil done to him, but refused to let that evil define him. Rather he overcame that evil with good. In him there was no reaction, no retaliation, no retribution – only a single-minded kindness.

And it is this noble, bitter-sweet, beautiful, sorrowful-but-joyful, single-minded kindness that I see in the face of Jesus that I seek to flesh out in my life.

 

What Love Is This?

 

Strung out – naked – on the cross – assaulted by our age.

We see the cuts. We hear the cries. You suffer our disgrace.

 

Around your brows form lines of kindness. In your eyes there’s care.

Down your cheeks flow tears of sadness. On your lips – a prayer.

 

What love is this – as strong as death – that lives life as it should?

What love is this – with its last breath sets bad aside for good?      

 

Love never looked so sorrowful. Love never looked so sore.

Love never looked so beautiful. Love never looked so pure.

Love never looked so remarkable. Love never looked so great.

Love never looked so lovable. As it looks – upon your face.

 

Around your brows form lines of kindness. In your eyes there’s care.

Down your cheeks flow tears of sadness. On your lips – a prayer.

 

Love never looked so sorrowful. Love never looked so sore.

Love never looked so beautiful. Love never looked so pure.

Love never looked so remarkable. Love never looked so great.

Love never looked so lovable. As it looks – upon your face.

 

What love is this? (mp3) (sheet music)

 

Dave Andrews