What Is Love?

There are so many definitions of love in the world, poetry, song, philosophy and in all the religions across the world, both old and new.

This definition provided by John (aka "the beloved disciple") is for me the central definition of all definitions of love. John seemed to be closest to Jesus - and certainly wrote the most "revolutionary" and unique of all four gospels.

He wrote:
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." 1 John 3:16 (NIV)

Just eight words to explain love - from God's perspective.

Love = Jesus Christ laid down his life for us

So God gives us His sacrificial love (known as agape love) and this calls us to service, to give what we have received, to others - to lay down our lives for others.

This is love...
"For God so loved the world that He gave..." (John 3:16)... look at the numbering system comparing the two verses! John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16!

Easy to remember when we reach out to others...