The Divine Romance

I recently asked myself a question: "Why do I seem to be so attracted to love tragedies?" My favorite movies growing up were ones like "Titanic" and "Romeo and Juliet". Why is this I wonder? I began to pray. As I did, my mind wandered to certain scenes in both movies...and I realized a few things. The lovers in these movies were extremely committed to each other-even to the very point of death. The circumstances they faced did not change the commitment they had to each other. No matter how sticky or dangerous things became, they continuously looked out for each other and waited for each other. This passionate love was absolutely crazy-to the point of even being willing to die for each other, like how Jack stayed in the ice-freezing water so that Rose could have a chance. Or to the point of dying to join the other in death, to avoid any further separation from each other, just how Juliet took her life to join Romeo in death. What inside of me is so drawn to such relentless, layed-down lovers? There is nothing further they could have possibly done to avoid being separated from each other. Then a second question came to mind: "Is this really a tragedy? Could these stories not be viewed as a great success?" The greatest demonstration of love would be to lay down your very life, in complete and utter abandonment, with the only thought left in your mind being, "When shall I be joined to my lover once more?..."

My thoughts turn toward Jesus. In my minds eye, I see this furious love demonstration as God himself allows man to lay Him down on a cross. This man had power and authority to heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead...truly he was the Son of God and could do what he pleased. And this amazing, crazy, ridiculous thing called love provokes Jesus to willingly stretch out his arms on  a cross. Nails are driven into his hands, bringing forth excruciating pain. Yet, he continuous to submit, to surrender. The one thought of being joined back to his bride through death has completely possessed Him to a point where nothing could stop Him. This love for his counterpart has caused Him to give up everything, to the point of death. Only in death can He free his bride from sin. Sin brought forth death, which is where Jesus must go in order to be joined to his bride again. In death he meets her and from death he frees her. 

Love can be painful-it requires sacrifice, commitment, and abandonment to self. Jesus' heart explodes and bursts forth blood and water, by which his lover is brought back to Him and re-united with Him. He went the whole way and continues to pursue His bride, to see if she is willing to do the same. He wonders, "Will my bride love me back? Will she become  a layed-down, furious lover for me? Would she give up her very life in a wreckless, abandoned love demonstration?" His eyes search the whole earth for his counterpart, for her to love Him back like that, to love Him enough to give up her very life. 

"What makes a martyr?" I ask myself. This complete, total surrender of love to Jesus, to the very point of choosing death over being separated from her lover. To be possessed by the thought of her most furious lover that death does not even make her flinch. To die in order to be with her Jesus, that is love, that is commitment, that is a crazy love. It's not a love tragedy. It's an amazing and beautiful love story.