John 13: 31-38

 John 13: 31-38

This is the beginning of Jesus's final discourse in teaching with His disciples. In this passage we find a constitution for the community of Jesus's disciples. In verses 34-35 Jesus gives the foundational, commandment for the church's life and the power of its witness. To love one another even as the Lord has loved His disciples. That kind of life and love is an undeniable witness to a world of brutal selfishness.

Jesus says love is a commandment. We often think of love as a spontaneous emotion that cannot be resisted, planned or predicted. The use of the word commandment reminds us of the Ten commandments of Mount Sinai. Jesus has just instituted the Lord's Supper and the New Covenant. As the Ten Commandments began the old covenant love begins the new one. This love is expressed in willing self-sacrifice for our fellow disciples. Jesus has just referred to his death as an expression of His love for His disciples. When the world witnesses that kind of love the witness of Christ in the world is present.  But when the world sees hostility among disciples there can be no witness.  Love without serving sacrifice is banal sentimentality and is useless. It leads faith communities to become self-serving self-seeking religion clubs but never to be the church. 

This love has less to do with Anglicans and Episcopalians getting along than love  among those personally known to each other. This is not about Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox church leaders respecting each other. The selfish aggrandizing by individuals in local churches does more damage than the arguments over sub-points of doctrine.  Love of our brothers is more important than the style of worship within the worship service.  If we do not love our fellow disciples we are not part of the covenant community known as the church we are not disciples.

“Lord, grant me the will to obey Your command to love Your people.  AMEN”