Lent #37

John 13:31-38

It was right after Jesus had washed his disciples feet that Judas left the upper room. No one except Jesus and Judas knew what he was up to (until later), but then Jesus turned from this serious moment to something even more critical...instructions for later.

"I am with you only a little while longer..."

You can still imagine the confusion on the faces of the disciples when Jesus said that. They didn't want to consider Jesus leaving them. That was not in their understanding or their plans of the future. They thought they had it figured out. And when Jesus says things like this, doubt follows, fear rises, and confusion ensues.

Yet there is something important to remember...something Jesus says he wants to give them, a "new" command, "love one another, just as I have loved you."

It's not really a new command, but it is a renewed one. It's the one command Jesus gave. Of course Jesus reiterated earlier that there first command was to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and the second was to love your neighbor as yourself. This "new" command was more specific, and it is the one command we fail at the most!

What was he talking about? Specifically he was describing how believers should act toward other believers. It's not how many of the Jews felt about one another or treated one another, so in some ways it was something new. (Pharisees and Sadducees didn't get along until the leaders worked together to get rid of Jesus. Zealots didn't see eye to eye with anyone else and the Essenes moved into the desert to keep from being influenced by the worldliness of the other Jewish sects.)

We are supposed to love other Christians (period).

When we do this (keep this command) we are showing the world who Jesus is.

When we don't do this, we are something less and therefore the world sees Jesus as less. (as one whose love is limited, who divides, who chooses favorites, who is unfair, unequal, un-God-like.)

In this Holy Week, we find ourselves in the midst of the passion drama, where Jesus sees the evil of the world very clearly, who could take his place as Eternal Judge and eradicate the hate and injustice that is taking place among the different human factions and force his ways upon the world. Instead, Jesus took his own command and lived it, loving his believers fully (including Judas), loving those who condemned him (fellow Jews), and even loving those who proved to be his enemies (the Romans).

It's Jesus' way of conquering the world!

It's one command.

And we fail miserably at it.

He told us, taught us, gave us something to give away...to each other, to other Christians who do not believe like us, who follow other Christian traditions (Catholics, Baptists, Assemblies of God, Nazarenes, etc.)...

...love.

And they will know we are Christians by it.

Prayer: Jesus, help me to begin loving other Christians today the way you love me, so that I can develop love beyond this to love even my enemies as well. Amen.

Peace ><>
Pastor Chris