What Kind of Love Is This?
Love Revealed in Scripture
In the Garden: When Adam and Eve sinned, God covered them with a sacrifice instead of leaving them exposed (Genesis 3:21).
In the Wilderness: When Israel complained, God provided them with manna every day for forty years (Exodus 16).
Through Hosea: A prophet restores an unfaithful spouse to illustrate God’s unwavering covenant love (Hosea 3).
In the Prodigal’s Return: A father runs to embrace his disgraced son, restoring him with honor and joy (Luke 15:11–32).
Each story whispers: “This is what the love of God is like.”
Echoes in Human Stories
Sometimes, moments of love shine through human experience. In Les Misérables, Bishop Myriel forgives Jean Valjean, declaring, “You no longer belong to evil, but to good.” That undeserved grace changes Valjean’s entire life.
Modern testimonies share similar stories - people who forgive the unforgivable, reconcile with enemies, or welcome strangers into their families. These are subtle but powerful echoes of God’s heart.
A Love Out of This World
John’s amazement makes sense: no earthly culture could invent a love this radical. The world is transactional - love for love, favor for favor. God’s love is unilateral: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Reflection Question:
Where have you seen glimpses of this kind of love - in Scripture, history, or your own life?