Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/215736
The Love That Sent Him SCOTT A. WENIG, PHD PROFESSOR OF APPLIED THEOLOGY ago, John one the on the day after Several decadeswas thePope men inXXIII visitedcenturyofthat aworst prisons in Romeme, so and when Christmas. It first time almost a pope had gone to a prison, John arrived, he said to the incarcerated there, "You could not come to I came to you." That is the spirit of God's love for this broken and hurting world we inhabit. Out of love, He came to us in Christ demonstrating that His love is the real "reason for the season." The Apostle John, probably one of Christ's closest friends during our Savior's time on earth, wrote extensively about God's love. Perhaps he expressed this most clearly in chapter three, verse sixteen, of his Gospel: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." As John notes, God's love is expressed in giving; so much, in fact, that He willingly sent His Son to earth as a tiny baby born in a Bethlehem manger so that anyone who believes in Him might have eternal life. "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER SHOULD BELIEVE IN HIM WILL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." (JOHN 3:16, KJV) As is sometimes the case in today's culture, love is a term too casually used—or misused— leading to unfortunate misunderstandings and inappropriate actions. But as Christmas so clearly reveals, genuine love is expressed as a wildly sacrificial generosity, something the Scripture often labels as grace. God so loved the world—even in its rebelliously lost and desperately sinful condition—that He showered it with His grace in Christ. Without question, that is good news! Perhaps at some point during this December, you will find yourself battling the prison of depression, feeling the pain of loneliness, or engaged in a personal conflict not of your own choosing. It's surprising how often in these difficult places God's Spirit whispers a gentle reminder of His never-ending love for us. For as the Apostle Paul once noted, nothing can "...separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:39). So, regardless of the situation or circumstances we find ourselves in this Christmas season, may we find comfort and hope in the love He so generously gave and continues to give. DENVER SEMINARY CHRISTMAS 2013 24 DECEMBER 29