Jesus Christ portrayed this much better than you or I could ever imagine possible. Jesus loved an unlovely world. He loved the sinful, the wicked, the poor. He loved those whom most of us would consider unworthy of our love. Jesus loved people that most people look down their noses at and detest. Yes, Jesus loved the entire world. He loved this wicked world so much, He gave His life for it! Certainly there can be no greater love than this.
Look at what Jesus said, recorded in John 15:9-13 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
First notice that Jesus said here “Abide in my love” or KEEP loving the way I loved you! We are to love others like Jesus loved us! Notice verse 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you”. Again, He says of His love that we should love JUST as HE loved! Does this mean we should love others enough to even give our lives for them if it becomes necessary? Yes, my friend – that is what it means!
Our love as Christians should not be as this world’s temporary selfish love, but as God’s permanent, selfless love! Real love forgets self, knows no boundaries, and loves others entirely. Remember Jesus words, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” That is TRUE Love!