Verily I had rather feel and have a true and clean desire in my heart to my Lord Jesus Christ, though I see little of Him With my spiritual eye, than to have without this desire all the bodily penance of all men living, all visions, all revelations of Angels appearing, all songs and sounding to the ear, all tastes and smellings, fervours or any delights, or bodily feelings, and (to be brief) all the joys of heaven and earth which are possible to be had, without this desire to my Lord Jesus. David the Prophet felt (as I conceive) this desire in himself, when he said thus: What have I in Heaven but Thee, and what can I desire on earth besides Thee? (John Climacus)

To desire Jesus is to know him, be in relationship with him, and to experience his love.

Some have observed that humankind is divided into those who would be lover or beloved.

Often this distinction is extended to a division between active and passive.

I read Climacus as seeking to be both lover and beloved. He desires Jesus. He is an active lover of Jesus.

But Climacus is also active in seeking to be the beloved of Jesus. He knows that Jesus loves him. But it is a love that must be received.