The Shulamite woman, speaking of her husband, declared in Song of Songs 2:4 “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” This is nothing less than a picture of the love of Jesus Christ for His bride, the church. The apostle Paul couples the death of Christ on the cross for him with his His love for him with these words, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal 2.20). Jesus Himself links His death for us with His love for us with these words, John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” The apostle John writes, 1 John 3:16 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” Indeed, the banner of Jesus Christ over His bride, the church is love.
The impact of the love of Jesus Christ upon His people is extraordinary. His love is unquenchable. Song of Songs 8:7 “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be condemned”. His love drives us to reach the lost with the gospel. 2 Corinthians 5:14,15 “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that He dies for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.” The love of Jesus is a love that casts out fear. 1 John 4.18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” The love of Jesus Christ is an indissoluble love. Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
In a love starved world, we as disciples of Jesus Christ have a love from Him that is not of this world. It is an everlasting love. Jer 31.3 “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee”. This love for us was displayed on Calvary. 1 John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.” Abide in His unchanging, unconditional love today beloved, for His banner over you is love.
