Jesus - The Original Valentine

"Today's Devotion" For February 14, 2006

Read: John 10:7-18; Psalm 118

JESUS - THE ORIGINAL "VALENTINE"

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

Valentine's Day has traditionally been a day for exchanging professions of love, particularly between men and women. It's a day that has a long history of romantic notions and activities - most focused around the concept of romantic love. In our present day, in many ways, Valentine's Day has become a "Hallmark Day" as cards and small gifts of affection are exchanged (two of my grandnieces made sure we got our "Valentines" from them a week ago already).

But the true history of Valentine's Day goes all the way back to the third century A.D. Valentine was a priest living during the days of the Roman Emperor Claudius. Claudius was having trouble getting volunteers for the armies of Rome. It seems that married men didn't want to leave their wives and children to fight battles, so very few men volunteered for such service. This infuriated Claudius to the point that he decided that he would no longer allow any marriages. Without wives and families about which to be concerned, he would have ample volunteers to fill his armies.

This new law was not well received by the young people, as you can well imagine. They still wanted to get married, and Valentine, the priest, decided to help them. Legend has it that he secretly performed marriages in direct violation of the Emperor's decree, and when he was found out he ended up in prison, sentenced to death. While in prison he was visited often by one of the young people to whom he had been ministering who was the jailer's daughter. They became fast friends. On February 14, 269 Valentine was put to death. Before he died, however, he wrote a letter to his special friend, thanking her for her compassion, friendship, and encouragement. He signed it, "Love, from your Valentine."

While much of the story of St. Valentine is surrounded by legend and conjecture, it does reflect a compassion and commitment to the welfare of others, even under the most trying and dangerous circumstances. In many ways, the story of St. Valentine is the story of a follower of Christ, called to His service, who took to heart Jesus' description of Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. While today we think of Valentine's Day as a day for romance, cards, candy, flowers, and candlelit dinners, the real Valentine in his day reflected the Savior's love to people in dire straits in defiance of, arguably, an unjust law.

As poignant a story as the legend of St. Valentine is, it can't hold a candle to the world's original Valentine - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In defiance of all the powers arrayed against Him - the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herod, Satan, and the Roman Empire - Jesus proclaimed the Good News of salvation in Him according to the promises of the Father. They couldn't "shut Him up," nor could they answer His challenges. Wherever they looked, He was showing them that their way wasn't God's way. The end was inevitable, as the Father, and He, always knew, and He went the way of the Cross - suffering death and the judgment of the Father for our sins.

So great is the love of our Lord Jesus Christ for you and me and the whole world, that He gave His life for our redemption and the forgiveness of all of our sins. As we commemorate and remember St. Valentine's Day today, may we be pointed to the first and only true "Valentine" - love letter from God - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the One who made the priest, Valentine, of the third century, "St. Valentine," as the Spirit led him to live his faith by serving others, regardless of the danger to his own life. In that, however, Valentine wasn't breaking new ground, but following in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus, as we are all called by faith to do. As we exchange our greeting of love and affection with our loved ones this day, let's also remember that our love for each other has no staying power without Christ's love living in us. So, in Christ's love and service, have a very Happy and Blessed Valentine's Day.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your great love and compassion for me so that You sent Jesus to be my Savior from Sin, Death, and Satan. Thank You for giving me examples of faith and love, such as Valentine who lived his life, according to tradition, in a way that loved others in Your name, regardless of the consequences to himself. Help me to live my life with the same joy, peace, and boldness in Jesus so that I may be an effective and faithful witness to Your love as I live in Your love and share it with others so they, too, might be forever with You in heaven. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.