May 06, 2018
AS I HAVE LOVED YOU
John 15:9-17
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
What do you think of when you hear the word love? Do you think of a couple walking hand-in-hand on the beach as the sun is setting? Do you think of Valentine’s Day and a warm fuzzy feeling in your stomach? Do you think of your wedding day? Maybe you think of pizza…or the Cubs… a sibling or cousin…or your pet. We use the word love for so many different things. Maybe we don’t understand love because we don’t know how to define it.
In the Greek language there are eight different words for love. Eros (sexual passion/strong desire/lust), Philia (brotherly love / friendship), Ludus (playful love / puppy love), Pragma (mature love / enduring love), Philautia (self love), Storge (familial love), and Agape (perfect love, selfless / sacrificial / pure / unconditional).
Love can mean a lot of things. In our text Jesus tells us; he commands us as Christians to love one another. But what does that mean? Do we only love those that love us back? Do we only love those that we know? Do we only love those whom we agree with? Do we only love those that look like us…or talk like us…or act like us? Do we only love those who have first loved us…or helped us…or given something to us? So many questions… not to mention that we aren’t always glowing examples of love to begin with. Maybe that’s why Jesus gives us a little clue; a little direction in His command to love.
He says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” (John 15:12-17)
Did you hear that? Love one another as Christ has loved you. As Christ has loved you. Jesus would not define love with only words, but with actions: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “Having loved his own who were in the world, [Jesus] loved them to the end. . . . Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet” (John 13:1, 5). “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). There you have it—that is love. For Jesus, love meant nothing apart from deeds. Jesus didn’t just speak love, he did love. Jesus’ love is sacrificial, selfless, pure, unconditional, forgiving, strong, perfect. never fails and never ends.
Jesus gives all of this love to us very unlovable, sinful human beings. Jesus didn’t choose to love us because we loved him first. No, we’re about as good at that as His very disciples. They talked a good game. The night of our text—early that night, that is—Peter and all the disciples were sure they’d make any sacrifice for Jesus, even die with him. Well, you know how that turned out. The disciples were good with speaking words of love, but when it came time for sacrifice, to put their lives on the line, even their words bailed out: “I don’t know the man!” No, Jesus didn’t choose to love the disciples because they chose to love him. He’s quite emphatic: “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (v 16).
Jesus chose you—you who were no more lovable and reliable than Peter. You who bail when it’s time to tell your friends, right out loud, right there when he’s being mocked, “I love Jesus.” How often have we failed Jesus…We fail when we fight with our parents, siblings, and friends. We fail when we allow others to harm themselves by sin. We fail when we decide not to stand up for the truth found in Scripture. We fail over and over again…when we sin…regardless if it’s a tiny sin or a huge sin. Every time we sin…we fail to love Jesus. We really aren’t all that lovable, but Jesus says, “I love you—here is some fish and bread.” Jesus says, “I love you—get up and walk.” Jesus says, “I love you—I lay down my life for you, my friend.” Jesus says, “I love you—take eat, take drink for the remission of all your sins.” Jesus says, “I love you—your sins are forgiven.”
Now how would you define love? We love not by words but by deeds. We love by sacrifice. We love by laying down our lives for others. And we do that by giving our time, our comforts, and our treasures. We love others when we visit them in the hospital…or call them…or send them a card. We love others when we help them by cutting their grass, picking up leaves, or doing other things around their house when they are unable. We love others by helping even when we haven’t been asked to help. We love others by sharing the good news about Jesus. We love others by calling them to repentance. We love others by forgiving them even when they haven’t asked for forgiveness and by asking for forgiveness when we fail. We love others by putting them first. Love doesn’t look for a reward in return but seeks to give to others.
By faith we can and should love anyone and everyone! Be faith we do. Anyone for whom we sacrifice is someone we love, starting with our spouses, children, and friends. We can love people whom we don’t even know. How many people give money for the relief of those caught in natural disasters? That is sacrificial love. We love the unloving. We love those who do not love us. We love as we do deeds in the name of Jesus Christ. We do because Jesus loved us first.
The sacrificial love of Jesus is hard for us to do. It takes effort, practice, and concentration. It takes open eyes to see the needs of others. How can you better love those at home, at church, at work, in your neighborhood? Love with the love of Jesus. Love because he loved you first. And if there is someone you have a hard time loving…pray for help. And pray for them. Even pray for your enemies. Love by forgiving and giving; love by sharing Christ. Amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
