Loving God

Posted 5/25/2001

Mark doesn't have a lot to say about love. He only mentiones the word in three contexts:

1. First in Mr 10:17-31 to describe Jesus' feeling toward the young, but rich, man
2. Second in Mr 12:28-34 when the scribes came to try to stump him, and Jesus makes it clear (again) what God wants more than anything else is our love
3. Last in Mr 12:35-40 right after the questioning, as he warns people of the true nature of their leaders

However, only the first two instances are truly love. Jesus loved the young man dearly, unconditionally - He was pleased with the man's desire for salvation. That same feeling of fondness and pleasure is what He is talking about in the First Commandment.

Compare this love to that of the scribes' love of clothing and fame. This type of love is an entirely different Greek word that is also translated as will, desire, would have - all about wanting something, wanting it pretty badly. This is not always bad! It's all about what is desired so strongly:

• The leper knew that he could be clean, if Jesus wanted , which He did! Mr 1:40-41
• Jesus called the disciples that He wanted Mr 3:13
• The Herodias wanted to kill John the Baptist, and Herod didn't want to reject her Mr 6:19-26
• Jesus wanted to walk past the disciples that stormy night Mr 6:45-53
• Jesus wanted to be anonymous in the country of Tyre and Sidon, but a Greek woman found out about him and appealed for her daughter. Mr 6:48
• Whoever wants to go after Christ needs to take up his cross and follow Him, and whoever wants to save his own life will lose it. Mr 7:34-38
• Elijah was treated however the people wanted to when he came Mr 9:13
• Again, Jesus wanted to be anonymous, this time in Galiliee Mr 9:30
• The one who wants to be first will get there by being last, and by being the servant of all. Mr 9:35
• James and John wanted Jesus to give them top spots in His kingdom Mr 10:36
• Jesus tells them yet again that those who want to be great must be a humble servant Mr 10:43-44
• The blind man wanted  to have sight, and got it Mr 10:51-52
• The scribes want nice clothes and fame Mr 12:38
• You can do good to the poor any time you want to Mr 14:7
• The disciples wanted to know where Jesus wanted to go for the passover Mr 14:12
• Jesus wanted His Father's will over what He wanted to do. Mr 14:36
• Pilate wanted to know if the people wanted Jesus released Mr 15:9,12

So enough talk about wanting, and back to loving. There is such a difference! So often love will go against our will. The desire for revenge, for the last word, for our own way - all are suppressed and nullified by the love that only Christ can give. Such a forgiving, unconditional concern for the other that nothing can change. Such is the love God wants from us, and such it is that He shows us.

All verses in this article