Love Like Jesus

• What do you want to be known for in your life?

• The answer to that question probably changes as your life changes - when you’re younger - maybe sports - or school - or social circle - As you get older you want to be recognized for your job - maybe later it’s how much money and stuff you have

• Maybe you want to be known for being a good person - a family person - or somebody who helps out in their community

• That is maybe what you want to be known as but what are you actually known to be like?

• If your friends and family could define you with one word what would that word be?

• Determined, hardworking, kind, generous, patient

• Or maybe it would be selfish, stubborn, arrogant, greedy or angry

• But whatever you want to be known as or are known as, as Christians, there is a certain way we are to be known

• Many people in the world see the Church and Christians in not a great way

• They think we are judgemental, mean, and angry

• Many people outside the church have similar views as Gandhi when he said “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

• Now often when people say something along those lines they don’t have a full understanding of who Jesus is – but still that is what they think - they have positive view Jesus – when they think of him they think of good stuff – but not of his church

• That can be disheartening at times – especially for those of us who are committed to the church– that idea can kind of push you back - it’s discouraging

• But I believe we can change that – we can change how people view Christians and how they view the church – might not be an instant change – It will take time, and it won’t always be easy

• Because Jesus had a way he wanted us to be known

• He told his disciples the night before he went to the cross

• Jesus is spending time with his disciples - and he has just done the amazing act of washing their feet - He is beginning to show them how much he will do for them - and Judas has just left to go betray him

• And Jesus begins to teach his disciples as he often did - but because this is his last night with his disciples before his crucifixion - it feels important

• Like his last things he wants his disciples to know and understand before he leaves

• And he says these amazing words in John 13:34-35 - John 13:34-35 New International Version (NIV)

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

• Pray

• This is one of my favourite verses in the bible - because it seems so simple - but amazing at the same time - I do believe if all Christians put this verse into practice- we could change the world - if we loved like Jesus - imagine the difference that would make - but before we look at how to love like Jesus - we need to look at how he loves us

• I love to think about what was going through his disciples heads when he said that

• Because I bet a first a lot of them didn’t think this was a new commandment

• They had been told already to love God and love their neighbour - but then Jesus says this - love each other - like I love you

• Think about how he loved them - tax collectors - and fishermen - many of them were people who others hated - considered them rejects - or traitors to their country - or just guys not good enough

• But Jesus welcomed them in - gave them invitation to do something great in following him

• This love changed their lives - gave them all a new direction in their lives - a new path

• The apostle John was so changed by this that he later simply calls himself the one that Jesus loved - this love changed him so much that it became how he defined himself- that was all that was important to him - he didn’t need to be recognized by any other accomplishment or achievement - other than the fact that he was loved by Jesus

• The disciples knew they were loved - they were willing to live and die for this