A Reflection on John 13: 31 - 35

a reflection offered in worship with cluster churches before church conferences on September 16, 2023...

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another…

 

A few weeks ago at Faith, Janice Harmon and I preached a two part “mini-series” on love, drawing from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, the 12th chapter. In that chapter, Paul is making clear to the community exactly what kind of sacrificial work they are called to in light of who Jesus was, what he commanded, and what he sacrificed. 

 

Paul described our work as disciples this way:

 

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers.

 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

 

I preached a sermon on this text against the backdrop of:

•          The deadly shooting of three black people in Jacksonville rooted in racism, carried out on the 60th anniversary of the civil rights March on Washington.

•          Antisemitic graffiti on the bike path just a block from our church.

•          A letter received Friday afternoon telling me that God wants me to know that we are wrong to be inclusive and we will go to hell unless we take down our rainbow flag and start preaching about sins like homosexuality and abortion.

 

The reality is that each week, our churches are called to make disciples of Jesus Christ against a backdrop like that.

 

And the work of being a disciple of Jesus is to love. 

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another…

 

Loving is not easy. It is real work. 

 

The love that Paul describes is love that embraces the hardest among us to love. It is love that is sacrificial, marked by choosing love over ease and privilege. It is love that is not vague. No…

 

It is love that holds fast to what is good – which means we must work to discern what is good.

It is love that demonstrates honor and respect – which means we must always take the high road.

It is love that is active and enthusiastic – which means we can’t just pay lip service.

It is love that is hopeful and patient and resilient – which means withstanding seasons three steps forward and one step back while still offering hope.

It is love that provides for people’s needs – which means we need to know those needs.

It is love that endures persecution – which means sometimes we will be reviled.

It is love that reaches those that others reject – which means we must leave our buildings.

 

This kind of love reaches people. 

This kind of love builds community. 

This kind of love changes the world.

This is the love that Jesus commanded.

 

Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

 

Beloved, there is much to be done. Let’s get to work.

Amen.