We are just about to enter into the month of December and
there is finally some snow on the ground. Not a lot of snow here in town but a
bit more out in the foothills and on the mountain peaks. We have a few terms
for snow such as dry snow, wet snow, snow pellets, crusty snow and so on but
did you know that the people in northern Canada have over fifty words for snow?
So many ways to describe frozen water, incredible isn’t it?
There is another word that can be expanded and that is love.
In the English language love can be used to describe a type of love, I love
that sweater, or, I would love another cup of tea but, truth be told, it is a
rather limited word. I would suggest there are varying degrees of love such as
I love my dog but not in the same way I love my wife. The Greek language has us
beat there. Love is defined in numerous ways such as eros; a sexual or
passionate love, philia; a deep friendship or brotherly love, ludus; a playful
love or friendship love, pragma; a long and deep love built over time,
philautia; a narcissistic or self love and finally agape; a perfect and
complete love.
In John 3:16, the scripture reads that God so loved the
world that He sent His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not
perish but have eternal life. The term love in this passage is ηγαπησεν, which is
in the family of words under agape. God loved us with such perfection that the
term used is indefinable in English terms. The perfection of this love is like
trying to define infinite. Absolute perfect and infinite love. He sent His Son
to earth so that we would know that perfect love right here on earth and God
sent His Son that we might know eternity. Merry Christmas; a joyous and festive
time of giving thanks for Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. This is the time we
celebrate His agape for all mankind.
This Advent Sunday, we look at the agape in the Christmas celebration.
Pastor Todd
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