THE MYSTERY OF LOVE - 1 JOHN 3:1
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the Man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulders,
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life;
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything;
No gifts, no power, no wisdom,
But I will boast in Jesus Christ:
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart:
His wounds have paid my ransom.

Thinking about the mystery of love, is to think about God our Father, for He is love.  God our Father loves us because we are his and there is nothing we can do to buy his love.  “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). 

Out of his love for us, God comes to seek sinful humanity.  His love is a mystery because unlike sinful humanity who chooses who to love or not, God our Father loves us just the same. The Apostle Paul tries to explain this mystery as follows. “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:16-19).

The magnitude of the love of God is unsearchable.  It is wide, long, high and deep.  The best illustration of the mystery of God’s love is the death of Jesus on the Cross.  God came and was born as a human.  In humility he chose a humble family and place of birth.  He walked among his people as Immanuel.  At the appointed time, he took a difficult journey to the Cross and there he died the painful and shameful death of a sinner that humanity could become his righteousness. All this he did to redeem humanity back to himself; to return us back to Eden.  This time not the physical Eden, but one born in the heart by faith in Jesus Christ.  He died to reconcile us to himself so that our relationship broken by sin would be restored.

This hymn by Stuart Townend is a summary of God’s work on the Cross.  The lyrics deeply explain how he died to express his love to sinful humanity.  Behold, even now, out of love, he stands at the door of your heart knocking (Revelation 3:20). His intention is to have fellowship with you regardless of who or where you are.  Will you open up your heart in faith to receive his love?  His love erases your sinful past and gives you a new beginning in Him.