As it is Memorial Day weekend, I thought it would be appropriate for us to spend a few moments thinking and remembering.
In the craziness of life when someone is leaving or is in the last moments of their life – we take notice and listen up. In those last few moments, great wisdom is often shared. The dying don’t waste their last moments on trivial events and conversation. They cut to the chase and speak their heart plainly.
To illustrate this, let’s watch this quick clip from the Proposal as it depicts the attentive nature of those surrounding the grandma after her heart attack.
As we look at our Gospel text from John 14 we hear Jesus shedding some last minute wisdom to his disciples. Beginning in verse 15 he is telling us: “If you love me, keep my commands.” So right away we have to start by reflecting back upon the life of Jesus and the scriptures in order to remember his commands.
If we love Jesus we will do what he commands. If we love God – we will follow his decrees. If we love the Lord, we will live out his commandments.
So right away we have to start by reflecting back upon the life of Jesus and take note of his commands. As we do that, what are some of his commands that stick out to you?
When we think of the commands of God – of course our minds are going to go to the great list of the Ten Commandments. (1. No other gods 2. No other image 3. Don’t take the Name of the Lord in vain 4. Remember the Sabbath 5. Honor your parents 6. Don’t murder 7. Don’t commit adultery 8. Don’t steal 9. Don’t bear false witness 10. Don’t covet) They are the ten great.
Interestingly, eight of the great ten are put in the negative tense. We hear do-not after do-not after do-not.
But when we think specifically of the commandments of Jesus – the ones documented in the four Gospels – the ones he said, they are not usually painted in the negative. Rather we hear Jesus speak his commands in the positive. We don’t hear Jesus speak of what not to do, but what to do. Here this morning we hear Jesus speak his positive commandment to Love.
We don’t have to go very far from our passage today to hear Jesus specifically give us a command to love. Let’s flip back one chapter to John 13:34.
If we’re going to follow his commands, here he flat out tells us to love one another! He’s as straight forward as can be. In his last moments together with his disciples, he commands them to love one another. On the night he is betrayed and handed over to the Romans, Jesus cuts straight to the chase and tells his friends they must love one another.
There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. We are to love one another.
I think of Granny Annie from the Proposal. And like Granny – Jesus longs for those he is closest to – to be in unity – that there not be the quarrelling and bickering. His desire is for his closest friends to love one another. As he shares a meal with his friends, as he looks at them with the knowledge of what is ahead, his emphasis is on love!
In our text last week Jesus pulled us into his presence and described to us how we will do greater things than even he had done. We looked at how we have power and that it is a communal, collective call. It’s not an individual call where we are stuck out on our own trying to swim and make a difference. As we think about this collective call, the Scriptures even remind us about the strength in numbers. In Matthew 18:20 we hear Jesus say: “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” We’re not at this alone! We must come together and love one another. We must come together so we can love as Christ Loves! Love in community!
As we move on in our passage, today Jesus is reminding us that while he is going away, while he isn’t physically here with us, he is sending us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, depending on what translation you read, is described here in John as an advocate, a comforter, or a helper. Jesus tells us we are not left as orphans. We are not left out on our own. We are taken care of. We are loved. The emphasis is in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Next week is Ascension Sunday. It’s the Sunday we come together to recognize Jesus’ life on earth post resurrection. But he doesn’t stay on earth, we know that. That’s what we’ve been talking about. He goes back to the father. He goes back up to heaven to be with God the father and prepare a place for us. He describes this to his disciples. He describes it to us.
Then, in two weeks – we celebrate Pentecost. Pentecost is the day we celebrate the real presence and infilling of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is the day Jesus speaks of here in this passage. Pentecost, I believe is the strength we live in today! It is because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we are able to love as Jesus loves.
It is because of the Holy Spirit that we are able to be comforted and to comfort. It is because of the Holy Spirit that we are drawn to a life of compassion! Compassion for one another and compassion for our world! It is because of the Holy Spirit that we become advocates for social change among the bleakest of situations – like tornados, human trafficking and dirty water. It is because of the Holy Spirit that we step into the lives of this broken world and speak of Christ’s unconditional love – and even use words when necessary.
The Holy Spirit in our lives brings clarity and movement to the scriptural call of Love. Jesus Christ does not leave us as orphans. He tells us this morning that we, if we are willing, will receive The Holy Spirit. Together with the help of The Holy Spirit, we are able to advocate on behalf of Jesus Christ.
As I think of the commands of Jesus – I don’t think we can break away from his words in Matthew 22:34-40.
Quoting Deuteronomy 6, Jesus says: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Jesus says the first, the greatest, the most important commandment is to love God. The second – which in many ways goes hand in hand, which is apparent in today’s text – is to love our neighbors. The greatest commandments in scripture – are to love.
As we notice the location of this text, the last minute wisdom Jesus wants to convey to his friends is the importance of love. The last minute wisdom, which he believes is vital for his disciples to hear is the importance to love. He says loving one another and loving others is important to both him and to God the Father. We are called to love!
We are called to love one another & love our neighbor. Sometimes I wonder why the emphasis on loving one another? It’s probably pretty straight forward for why we need to love our neighbor, but why the emphasis on one another? Perhaps Jesus finds it necessary to stress the importance of loving one another because so often we fail at it! If we look at the global church, it’s easy to see how we fail at loving one another. There is hostility between denominations and even within denominations. So it’s easy to see how we fail at loving one another.
Sometimes it seems easier to love the others… those outside our little tribe. I remember when we were in Seattle this revelation became apparent to me. I noticed in my own life that at times I was more patient and gracious to those outside our faith community than those within.
We had designed space within our church building for the community. It was designated for use by our neighbors. We spent time and money creating space – specifically a coffee house as a means to love on our neighbors. We knew there would be teens who would come in and carve their names on the tables. We knew there would be self-absorbed neighbors who would spill and leave trash on tables and floors and just walk away. We knew there would be kids and parents who would play with toys and games and not put them away. It was for them that we were there, so we were able to still extend love and grace to them.
But – then our own church people would come in and do the very same thing. Friends from other churches would come in and consume and waste, and trash the place. And I quickly found myself becoming frustrated and annoyed at them. I found myself on one hand willing to offer up unconditional love and grace to those outside our church family and on the other hand ready to drop down and throw punches (figuratively) with those within our family.
We are called to love one another & love our neighbor. Why the emphasis on loving one another? Because so often we stink at doing it! We think those within our family should walk, talk, and think like we do. We get frustrated and mad! We forget about putting others first in our own communities. We get so comfortable that we ask Jesus if we can sit on his left and our brother on his right. We forget to be the servant leaders as Jesus was! That’s why; I believe Jesus nearing the end of his time with his disciples stressed the importance of Love.
Near the end of his time on earth, Jesus tells us to love him by keeping his commands. He wants us to be comforted by the Holy Spirit. He wants us to be empowered and equipped by the indwelling of his Spirit. Jesus longs for us to Love! He wants us to love the Lord our God and love one another and love our neighbors. He reminds us that others will know we are his disciples – not by what we don’t do, but by what we do do… we will be known by our love.
As I think about this Memorial Day weekend. As I think about God the comforter. As I think about how we are to love one another, and as I think about how we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, I’d like for us to put this into practice.
What I’d like for each of us to do: is think of and remember a friend who is in the midst of grief or transition, and write them a note. Write them a letter. Let them know they are loved. Let them know you are thinking about them and praying for them. I’d like for us to spend a few moments and write a letter to a friend who has or is going through a tough time. I’d like for us to be the hands and feet, the loving embrace of God the father – empowered by the Holy Spirit to love our dear friends.
Perhaps they have lost a loved one to death. Perhaps they are going through cancer or a divorce. Whatever the circumstances – we all know someone who will benefit from the love of our Heavenly Father.
Take a pen, a piece of paper, and an envelope – and write an encouraging letter of love from you – on behalf of our Loving, compassionate, comforting, living God!
Near the end of his time on earth, Jesus tells us to love him by keeping his commands. He wants us to be comforted by the Holy Spirit. He wants us to be empowered and equipped by the indwelling of his Spirit. Jesus longs for us to Love! He wants us to love the Lord our God and love one another and love our neighbors. He reminds us that others will know we are his disciples – not by what we don’t do, but by what we do do… we will be known by our love.
Jesus says: “A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)
If you love me, keep my commands, and I will ask the father, and he will give you another advocate, helper, comforter, and friend to help you and be with you forever…” (John 14:15-16)
As you go, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength… and your neighbor as yourself. Go and Love!
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