"This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have Loved You. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:12-13) KJVGod is love. It is so important to Jesus that when He was asked to identify the greatest commandment, He said it was to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30 & Matthew 22:37-40).
Through the Eye of Love, Jesus willingly embraced the Cross. He died for us all while we were still sinners - He willingly lay down His life for mankind. Jesus' teaching promotes love and mercy. We see an example of His teaching from the parable of the lost son, popularly known as 'The Prodigal Son'. After squandering his inheritance, the wayward son came to his senses and returned home. The father showed us an example of walking in love by embracing his son as he allowed the out flowing of the divine love that had been shed abroad in his heart (Luke 15:20). The forgiving love of the father symbolizes the divine mercy of God.
Love is the heart of Jesus' teaching. He teaches us to follow His example by being kind to the ungrateful and to those with evil intent. In Luke 6:35-36, Jesus instructs us to love our enemies, do well to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.
