The pattern characteristic of Christ's love was service. "I am among you as he that serveth" (Luke 22:2727For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. (Luke 22:27)). Selfishness likes to be served, love likes to serve. That is one characteristic of Christ's love.
Another is, that it is a companionable love. How freely the Lord was going in and out among them, sympathizing with them when they had no sympathy with Him!
Another is, that it was above all the evil that it met with. We have not to go with the evil, but rise above it with patience, as Christ did, because our love, as His, has its spring from a source which is not dependent upon the thing that it loves, and which is above all the things that hinder. It goes on and abides, because its spring is in God.
Another characteristic of Christ's love is that it is thoughtful and considerate of us, and consequently adapts itself in the way of love to our condition, because it is entirely above it.
Another is, that it esteems others better than self. Christ could go and take up these poor wretched disciples as those who had been faithful to Him, and say, I will give you a share in My kingdom. He encourages every heart by the good He can say of it, and thus prepares it to receive rebuke when it is needed.
Another is the anxiety of love. In this world where evil is, we cannot have love without anxiety. The heart yearning in love is drawn out in anxiety-an anxiety that looks to the Lord and finds an answer there.
The measure and extent of the love of Christ was the total giving up of Himself to die for us. If I want to have a love that will do for a world of evil, it is the giving up of self for everybody, a love that is above the evil.