Definition: Agape is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love, the highest of the four types of love in the Bible.
I spent the week of Good Friday reading the four Gospel accounts of Jesus' death. I began researching all that Jesus went through on that mournful day. Medical opinions on His cause of death vary from dehydration to asphyxia from his own blood to cardiac arrest among others. Whatever the actual cause of Jesus' death, the one thing that is for sure is that it was painful, growling, and inhumane. From the first slash of the whip to the last nail on the cross Jesus' body was in pain beyond anyone's comprehension.
Within the darkness of these chapters I was able to find love. When Jesus humbled himself to wash his disciples' feet there was love. At the garden of Gethsemane Jesus showed love for his father when he prayed to that he be spared from what laid ahead. I saw love when he restored a Roman soldier's ear after Peter had cut it off in his defense. I even saw love as I read about Jesus on the cross. He speaks to his neighbor the penitent thief to his right. This man knows too well that he is a sinner and deserves his fate but still asked Jesus for mercy and for a place with him in Paradise. Jesus answers "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." meanwhile the impenitent thief is to his left and he and the crowds below are laughing and mocking him. The thief taunts Jesus saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" yet Jesus in love asked The Father to forgive them for their ignorance. One last thing before he leaves, he ensures that his earthly mother will be looked after. This is true love, AGAPE love. The kind of love that very few today can say have ever experienced. God's love for us is so great that He gave his only son that WHOEVER believes in HIM will not perish but have eternal life.
Let me conclude with this. Jesus could have stopped at the cross. He could have risen and be done with us and he still would have been worthy of all the Glory and Honor and Praise. But thank you Jesus for you have not left us here. You continue to be a part of our lives when we welcome you in. Thank you for your Love, Mercy and Grace. Shalom
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