A great deal of time, energy, and imagination is spent in making projections of the time and place, or places, of Jesus’ return and the end of the world as we know it. It seems incongruous to me to speculate on something so clearly addressed by Jesus in the books of Matthew and Mark, that he, Jesus and the angels as well, did not have knowledge of the date or the place of Jesus’ “Second Coming.” (Mark 13:32)

On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus did impart serious mews about himself and his Father. He gave his disciples knowledge of their new relationship with their Father and his Father: As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you . Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. . . My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:9&12)

In Exodus God addresses Moses when He delivers the Ten Commandments: “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. . . showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:4-6)

This message resounds throughout the Scriptures. David in the Psalms expressed his love for God: “For the King trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.” (Psalm 21:7)

With all the other issues at stake in the formation of Israel and in confronting the enemies and the temptations of their state, the theme of God ‘s love, and His desire for the love of His people is an unbroken theme throughout the history of His people. When Jesus contemplated the sacrifice he was about to endure, it was in terms of love. On the same night that he spoke to his disciples of his Father’s love, he said: “Greater love has no man than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) Jesus saw his very life as an expression of love. It was a love for his Father as well as for his disciples and those others who followed him. That night he prayed, “I have given them the glory that you gave me. . . so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:22)

This is a powerful, unmixed message of love worth spending my life to experience, full of the knowledge of God Himself.

Love in Him,

Prue