Our youngest son was born on Valentine’s Day. My wife has always called him her best Valentine ever. I have to admit, however, that it forever changed the way we celebrated Valentine’s Day! Instead of a romantic dinner and the perfect date night with all focus being on our love for each other, the day became an ordinary birthday celebration…And now that dementia has stolen almost all that used to be my mind, I hardly even remember what Valentine’s Day was supposed to be about … But do any of us really know the history behind Valentine’s Day?

According to Wikipedia, Valentine’s Day originated as a feast to honour the 3rd century Christian martyr, Valentine, later known as St. Valentine. Unfortunately, over time folk traditions would change this religious feast into a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of love…

But who was this Christian martyr, anyway?

Valentine was apparently the name of more than one Christian martyr. In fact, Valentine was a rather popular name in the 3rd century, and there are at least 50 stories of different saints by that name. There are two accounts, however, which are deemed more credible than most. By one account, Valentine was a roman priest and a doctor who was martyred during the 3rd century reign of Claudius II Gothicus. Pope Julius would later build a basilica over his grave. Another account claims Valentine to be the bishop of Terni, also martyred in Rome, and artifacts and parts of his body were later taken to and displayed in various basilicas around the world. It is also possible that these are different versions of the same story and only refer to one person, for both reportedly healed a child, which led to the entire household converting to Christianity, both were executed on the same day of the year, and both were buried along the same highway.

Early stories tended to stress the fact that Valentine was Christian and suffered a gruesome death with little reference to romance. One legend, however, purports that he wrote a letter to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and healed from blindness, and he supposedly signed the letter, “From your Valentine”. Other stories claim he defied the orders of the emperor and secretly married couples so that the men wouldn’t be conscripted to serve in war.

Celebration of St. Valentine began in the 8th century, where February 14 was declared a feast day in the saint’s memory. The day didn’t become associated with romantic love until the 14th and 15th centuries, with notions of courtly love associated with the lovebird of early spring. In the 18th century, the day grew into an occasion for couples to express their love for each other. They would offer candy, present flowers, send greeting cards, which aptly became known as “valentines”. In the 19th century, the handmade cards were replaced by greeting cards that were mass produced.

It is interesting to see how history has molded and changed the martyrdom of one man into a romantic holiday. I also find it interesting to see that there was more than one St. Valentine. But then, I’m not sure I should be surprised by either… You see, I believe the roots of Valentine’ Day go back even farther than the 3rd century AD…

Around the turn of the century between BC 1 and AD 1, a tiny baby was born. He was named … Jesus. He was not an ordinary baby, born in an ordinary way. Rather, He was born to a virgin, and He was 100% God, while also being 100% man! This baby chose to leave the splendors of Heaven: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8 NIV).

Why would Jesus do this? “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV).

You see, when we chose sin in the Garden of Eden (See Genesis 3), we chose the way of sin; and our sin separates us from God: “…but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God…” (Isaiah 59:2 NIV). A perfect sacrifice was needed in order for us to be reconciled with God: “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation…” (Colossians 1:21-22 NIV)

God loves us so much that He made a way for us to be reconciled to Him. That “way” was the way of the cross, the ultimate in cruel, painful deaths…That, my friends, is the definition of love: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NIV)

Jesus offered the ultimate gift of love, the ultimate Valentine’s gift!

So when my wife calls our youngest son her best Valentine ever, she is wrong. Jesus is that, and He will never be displaced from that spot!

It is not wrong to celebrate a birthday on Valentine’s Day. Neither is it wrong to celebrate your love for someone on Valentine’s Day. If, however, you want to experience the most powerful Valentine’s Day ever, spend the day meditating on the greatest love gift of history: Jesus Christ!

Inspired by Rob Chaffart
Founder, Answers2Prayer Ministries