Introduction to Love
The second week in Advent we focus on LOVE. We use the word LOVE to talk about our favorites, the things we like. We love a particular tv show. We love candy. We love our parents. But in the Bible, there is more than one Greek word to explain different kinds of LOVE. Here are a few examples:
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Storge – familial love- The love your parents feel for you.
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Philia – friend or brotherly love- The love you feel for your friends.
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Eros – romantic love- The love your parents feel for each other.
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Agape – unconditional "God" love- The love that God has for us, his creation.
It is this Agape LOVE that we talk about during Advent. As we prepare for Jesus’ birth, and make our way to Bethlehem, we have to consider why Jesus was born as a baby on earth.
Back in Genesis, chapter 1 , God created people. He walked in the Garden with Adam and Eve and wanted a relationship with his creation. However, sin began to separate people from God. This continued with person after person in every Bible story.
But God LOVED us so much, he sent Jesus to us. He knew we couldn’t manage our sin by ourselves, so Jesus came to save us. As we read and talk about LOVE in the scriptures this week, we must remember that we are not only on the way to Bethlehem for Jesus’ birth. We must also remember Good Friday and Easter, when Jesus showed us the greatest LOVE of all.
