That is such a good question Kathleen, and I would love to expound. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Miraculously, we are that joy, ‘the joy set before him’ was and is us. Our freely given affections were the only thing in the world he didn’t have, and the only thing in the world he was willing to die for (the crucifixion alone is reason enough to believe in the immense value he places on our love…you usually aren’t willing to die for something you don’t want more than life itself). In an act of love, he endured the cross for the hope of receiving our love and affections in return one day as his incentive. He set us free so that we would be free to love him. In Song of Solomon 4:9-10 the lover (Jesus), says to his beloved (the church), “You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. 10 How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice!” We have stolen his heart with ‘one glance of our eyes’, meaning that the turnings of our heart, our holy intentions, even before they have produced an action, steal away his heart. He is captivated by our feeble love in its initial stages, long before it is fully realized. He desires it above all else. Song of Solomon 6:5 further declares the extent to which he is captivated by our love, “Turn your eyes from me; they overwhelm me.” Thanks for your question!
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