He loves us, like it or not.

This week in the Gospel of John (Jn. 3.14-21) we get a small potion of a larger discussion between Nicodemus and Jesus that happened one evening after the business of that day was finished and the evening could be given to contemplation.

In this conversation, a simple concept confronts Nicodemus. God, because of his love for his people and his creation is relentless. Love is the foundation of his kingdom. Therefore, Jesus in his preaching and teaching keeps calling on us to respond in repentance and faith to the coming of the kingdom amongst us. God in Christ pursues us seeks us out because he loves us and he desires us to be with him, both now and into eternity. We tend to forget that words like ‘holiness’ and ‘righteousness’ the very things that we need to be and to become are not verbs, things we do. Rather these things are things we become because of the relationship that we have and hold on to. These are characteristics that we gain as we spend time with the Lord and with other people who follow Jesus.

But this goes deeper than that. The love that God offers to this God hating empire is make stronger with mercy. And at the same time, his love needs to be accepted and responded to by surrendering to its demands. In fact, God goes so far as to say to each and to all of us, “I love you… like it or not.” We cannot twist or control God’s love for us to shape it to our benefit, to suit our needs or qualify our demands. We are not in control of God’s love or of God’s person. He loves all of us; like it or not.

It reminds of going to a First Nations village last Easter to do Baptisms. One boy of about three years of age was brought up to the font for Baptism. When I went to put water on him to baptize him, he smacked my hands away because he did not want to get wet or for me to touch him. His father scolded him for his actions. I then said to them, “It’s okay. Bring him down to the water so that he can touch it.” The boy played in the water for a moment, swishing his hand back and forth. Then I baptized him and anointed him with oil. I share that to say to you, God pursues you and is waiting patiently for you to turn and respond to him.

Negotiating with people to give them what they demand gives them control not only over the situation, it makes them ‘players’ and gives them a measure of control over us. This will never be where God is concerned. God’s love is free and unconditional. He loves us. Period. Whether we like him or not; whether we believe or not in him. He loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31.3)

And it does not end there. In loving us God in Christ becomes vulnerable. Christ becomes sacrificial and gives his life for us, all the way to death and the grave. Christ makes this gift, this sacrifice knowing the costs and does it anyway knowing that the price is dear. Humans do not want to be weak, vulnerable and make sacrifices. We prefer to live and our ongoing Game of Thrones where we win or die trying to win. We live believe that the real security is in power and strength, being bold and using power and might to affect change in the world.

Whose strength do you operate in? Yours or God’s? Are you able to be vulnerable and open to sacrifice for the benefit of another? I ask this because I know that in the presence of unconditional love, we discover ourselves powerless. In such living we need to yield to God, giving up or plans, letting go of our goals, and manipulating agendas. Know that God’s love is going to tenaciously pursue us, to transform us into the people that God created for himself, like it or not. God created this world and he is in control. He causes it to be maintained and he will bring it to an end when time is fulfilled in favour of the new creation and the new life it will contain. He has done this through being vulnerable, tenaciously loving and giving sacrificially.

Is this not a love, a God you could surrender to? In Christ God has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and offers life to those who will accept and love him. All we need do is come into his light, liking it or not.

Jason+