“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
(John 15:13)
When Christ our Good Shepherd says, “I lay down my life for my sheep,” (John 10:15), He is promising to love us with the most exceptional love imaginable. For there is no higher, no deeper, no greater love than one which moves the benefactor to give his own blood to secure the life and well-being of another (John 15:13). In the act of laying down His life to save those He loves, it is as if Christ kisses His elect with His words of eternal life and promise of divine favor.
The virtue of this sacred kiss of Christ’s Word to His beloved cannot be measured, for it is imbued with a transformative power that kindles a fire of love and longing in our souls for Him in return. A beautiful example of this transformation is found in the Gospel of Luke when Jesus tells Mary, “Woman, thy sins are forgiven thee,” (Luke 7:48). At that moment her heart is undeniably won. His very words are like a sacred kiss from her Lord, inspiring her never-ending love and allegiance to Him.
Manifest evidences of God’s undying love for His elect abound. But the greatest evidence of all lies in the sheer logic surrounding the redemptive, sacrificial work of Christ on the cross, as our text in John 15:13 iterates and Paul’s delivery in Romans 8:31-39 affirms: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Further, His promises to us – these “kisses” of Christ – are not abstract nor vague. Rather, they are continual affirmations of His love and commitment to His children. As the psalmist says, “Remember thy word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope,” (Ps. 119:49). And Thomas De Laune adds, “Evidences or manifestations of Christ’s love to a believing soul are clear demonstrations of Christ’s real affection. When a promise is set home and imprinted upon the soul or spirit of a doubting Christian, it causes all his fears to fly away.”[1]
This Word of Christ is the divine medium through which God communicates His eternal love and will to His elect. These sacred kisses are the bridge between God’s heart and human understanding. Through His Word, Christ informs us of His eternal intentions and promises, revealing to us the deep things of God, otherwise inscrutable to human wisdom. And when we believe and trust the promises that none other than our Savior can fulfill with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, all doubts and concerns about the extent of His devotion for us melt away.
Contemplations
- On Expressions of His High Favor. I know that Christ’s sacrifice is the ultimate expression of divine favor toward me. Each time I study Scripture and revisit the crucifixion narrative, I feel like I am receiving a sacred kiss from God, reminding me of His boundless love and favor.
- On Virtue in Christ’s Word. When I read the comforting promises of God, something miraculous happens within me. It’s as if Christ’s words have a life-giving virtue, filling me with love and devotion. I cannot help but be overcome by His lovingkindness and faithfulness.
- On Christ’s Manifest Love. Doubts and fears are part and parcel of my earthly journey. Yet each time I return to Christ’s Word, my worries seem to dissipate. I find manifest evidence of Christ’s love for me, and this realization drives my fears away, making my faith steadfast and unshakeable.
- On the Medium of Christ’s Message. The Bible is not merely a historical or literary work, but a love letter sent from God that carries the intimate messages of Christ’s love and redemption. Whenever I engage with Scripture, I am engaging with God’s own heart, understanding His will and His divine intentions for my life. Through His Word, the unknown becomes known, and the mysteries of God unfold before my very eyes. May we all feel the “kisses” of Christ through His Word, drawing us ever closer to His eternal love.
Further References for John 15:13:
John 10:11; 1 John 3:16; Rom. 5:6; Eph. 5:2
[1] Thomas De Laune, Tropologia, Or, A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors (London: John Richardson and John Darby for Enoch Prosser, 1681), 43.
