Ephesians 3:19 – The love of Christ

…to know the love of Christ as well which transcends knowledge…

At first glance, this petition has something of an inner contradiction. After all, how can you know something that surpasses knowledge? And yet, on closer inspection, that is indeed possible. Compare it to a bucket that is immersed in the ocean. Then that bucket is filled with the ocean. But is the ocean in that bucket? Of course not, impossible!

The love of Christ is described as “The love of GOD that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8: 35,39). For in Christ Jesus, the love of GOD is expressed. As Paul wrote earlier: “yet GOD is commending this love of His to us, seeing that, while we are still sinners Christ died for our sakes”. Christ died by sinners, but also for sinners. He died for the world, which nailed him to the cross.

It is the love of Christ that constrained Paul (2Cor.5:14). Mind you: not the love for Christ, but the love of Christ. Because once and for all, GOD’s love was proven when “one died for all”. That love (agape) is unconditional, universal, never ending and exceeding everything. It will reconcile all enemies to GOD (Kol. 1:20)!

Delen: