“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). He is tender toward the weak, the burdened, the failing, and the struggling. He gathers lambs into his arms and carries them close to his chest (Isaiah 40:11). He doesn’t break the bruised reed or quench the smoldering wick (Isaiah 42:3). His love is vast and complex, isn’t it? 

The Affection of Christ Jesus

“For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:8)

I think this sentence is fascinating. 

In this passage we find Paul describing his love as he writes the church in Philippi. I think it’s interesting that he didn’t point to his own natural affection. Instead he reached for something far greater. He said that his love for them was “the affection of Christ Jesus.”

What a statement.

As I read it, I couldn’t help but ask: what does the affection of Christ look like? What does it feel like? How does it act? How can he be so sure that his affections are like Christ?

Here are some thoughts.

A Love That Is Moved in the Depths

The Greek word Paul uses for “affection” (splanchnois), I found that it refers to the inward parts. It’s the bowels or gut. My commentary said that in the ancient world, this was considered the seat of the strongest emotions. This affection is a deep and profound kind of love.

Here are some ways I found that it showed itself in the life of Jesus:

1. When Jesus saw the crowds, it says, “he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Jesus’ affections were the sort of affections that were moved by the helpless and harassed. 
2. When a leper approached Him, Jesus was “moved with pity” and reached out to touch him (Mark 1:41). Jesus’ affections had no boundary, even for the outcast and “untouchable.” 
3. When He saw a widow burying her only son, “he had compassion on her” and raised the young man from the dead (Luke 7:13). Jesus’ affection did the impossible. 

These 3 examples show us that Christ’s affection moved in the depths of His being. When he saw someone or entered into a situation, he was moved in a profound way. His affection moved towards people and deeply connected with them. When Paul says that he “yearns for you all,” I can imagine he saw and responded in similar ways as Jesus. 

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