Over the centuries there have been many demonstrations of romantic love. In February 2012, the Smithsonian magazine released its own Top Ten. Among them was Queen Victoria’s construction of a mausoleum for her beloved husband, Albert, along with the retention of one of the rooms in Windsor Palace as a shrine dedicated to him, and the wearing of black every day until her death 40 years later.
The one that really struck me, though, was the first one on the list: King Edward VIII was willing to give up the throne of England for American divorcée Wallis Simpson, stating that he had ‘found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge [his] duties as King as [he] would wish to do without the help and support of the woman [he] [loved].’ Whatever our opinions of the king's action might be, that was romantic love indeed!
Now, think of this. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, vacated for a time the throne of heaven. This was also a demonstration of love – but in a different league.
Let me explain. God had created a perfect world, stating that everything He had made was very good (Genesis 1:31). That world had been corrupted by man, himself the pinnacle of creation. God’s love for mankind was such that, despite their disobedience to Him, His Son took on humanity and entered that world, not to gratify His own passions but to rescue mankind from their fate. How? The Son of God subjected Himself to death by crucifixion and, in so doing, paid the price that a holy God demanded on the behalf of sinners.
No other demonstration of love is worthy to be compared to this. The old hymn says: ‘Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.’
