“All other graces are eclipsed by Love.”
Thomas Watson
The Farewell Discourse really enters the picture when Judas exits it. “When he [Judas] had gone out…” then Jesus instructs the Eleven about the new commandment. Jesus says:
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 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. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:33-35)
How instructive that the phrase “little children” does not appear in this Gospel until Judas takes his leave of the Twelve and seeks to complete his act of betrayal. The love which Jesus commands his disciples is a love that looks back to the act of the foot washing and forward to the giving of his own life. (see John 15:12-13) How are we to love each other? “Just as I have loved you” says Jesus. The world teaches us to ask, “Does this serve me?” The Lord teaches us to ask, “How may I serve others?” The world affirms the philosophy of YOLO, “you only live once,” and this is a justification for living life to the “full,” focused on self and pleasure. Jesus affirms a life of taking up the cross, or TUYCD, “take up your cross daily,” and this reflects the reality that the abundant life is found on the other side of self-denial.
Christian, please live a life of love. This is the life you were called to. It is the core of the Christian life. Thomas Watson, a pastor from a long time ago, writes: “Love is the soul of religion, and is that grace which truly constitutes a Christian. Love is the Queen of the graces; it shines and sparkles in God’s eye as the precious stones did on the breastplate of Aaron.” In the Old Testament, the passage that calls us to love our neighbor begins with a reference to a field: “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.” (Lev. 19:9-10) To love your neighbor begins with leaving a little bit of margin at the edge of your field where the one in need might find sustenance. We will close by applying this idea to our modern lives: to love one another begins when we create a little margin in our lives, a space where people can be received, nourished, and pointed to Jesus Christ. Have a blessed day and we will see many of you on Sunday. May the Lord bless you this week as you look to him to provide a remedy for your current trials.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
