11/01/2022
Loving one another is such a basic tenant of our faith that we wonder why Jesus had to go to the trouble to declare it a new commandment like He did. We see this love in His every action and learn its importance through the way He treats those around Him… it is easy to love those who love us back, or who treat us rightly, but the love Jesus teaches us extends to our enemies, and yes, to those who betray us. Is this who we are? Would we be this way naturally, and without being commanded?
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””
John 13:34-35 ESV
We like to look at Judas Iscariot as the villain that betrayed Jesus, and we are inclined to despise him, but this is not how Jesus treated Judas. Jesus allowed Judas to dine with Him at the last supper, washed his feet just as he did those of the other disciples, and even served him communion. He did all of this and then sent him off to consummate his act of betrayal, and He chose this moment to give us the second great commandment… to love one another…
“When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””
John 13:31, 34-35 ESV
Do we love like this? Can we find it in us to love someone like Judas who has already agreed to betray us? What about someone like Simon Peter who Jesus said would deny Him three times before the cock crowed? Could we love this man? Or, what about Thomas who would not believe until he touched the wounds of the risen Christ… could we love him too? Before we say yes to this question let’s think of our own friends and how we would feel if they did these things to us. Would we love them still, and more so than that… are we worthy of the love of Jesus despite our own denials, moments of faithlessness, and heaven forbid, for making our own agreements, no matter the justification, with the devil? Answer this sons of Adam.
“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”
Romans 5:8, 10 ESV
Given our Divine examples of love, and betrayal, who is it that we ourselves cannot love? So in recognition of our human nature Jesus reiterated the importance of loving one another by making this act a commandment that we should obey it. How are we doing at this? Are we praying for those who persecute us?
““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”
Matthew 5:43-46 ESV
I pray for each of you in this regard; that you will love your enemies with the same vigor and loving intensity that you love and pray for your friends. I pray for you, and ask that you pray for me. This is not only a commandment, but even more than this, it is the desire of God, and Jesus Christ who love us.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for loving us while we were yet sinners, and thank you for loving those of us who were more than this… those whose sin had made them your enemies. Help us Lord to love as you love, and to see value of the soul within the fallen body. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who gave your Son to be our sacrifice; the perfect Lamb of God sent in love to redeem us, the lost. Praised be your name for every time you have washed our feet, offered us your wounds for us to touch, and forgiven us enough to make us into rocks of faith… the foundation of your church. Merciful are you in love, and absolute is your grace that sees us through our unworthy nature as you redeem us. Transform us Father into the loving image of Jesus, and see not our inadequacies, but His perfect love in us. Seat us with Him at your table, and call us your eternal children as we love you, Jesus, and one another forever, and forevermore.
Rich Forbes