Love Me!

John 14: 15 – 24 / Love Me!

Intro: "All You Need Is Love" is a song written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon/McCartney. It was first performed by The Beatles on Our World, the first live global television link. Watched by 400 million in 26 countries, the program was broadcast via satellite on 25 June 1967. The Beatles were asked to come up with a song containing a simple message to be understood by all nationalities. "It was an inspired song and they really wanted to give the world a message," said Brian Epstein. "The nice thing about it is that it cannot be misinterpreted. It is a clear message saying that love is everything.

I. Today it seems that “love” has become only a word. It is a word that is often spoken and rarely demonstrated. Our society has become careless with the way we use the word.

A. Who do you love? Why do you love them? -Verse15a – “If you love me . .” Do you love Christ? How do you love Him? What evidence is exists to prove your love for Christ?

B. Loving Christ involves more than Sunday Christianity, singing in the choir, serving on a committee or the Session. Loving Jesus means that His will not mine must be done. VS. 15b you will keep my commandments. How do we even begin to do that on a daily basis?

C. The phone rang. Jill picked it up to hear the feeble voice on the other end say, “Is this St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church?” Jill thought to herself, “No. I don’t have time for this.” The lady continued, “I live alone and am confined to a wheelchair. My children live in another state and I get so lonely I just can’t stand it. I’m not able to get to church. Could you just talk to me a little while?” – Suddenly, Jill felt a bit embarrassed. There was a long moment of silence as she looked around her house. It wasn’t that dirty or messy. She had planned to meet a friend for lunch. . . Returning to the conversation Jill said, “I am glad you got the wrong number. I would very much like to get to know you. Please give me your name and address and I will be there within the hour with makings for lunch and we can get to know each other.”

II. I think every parent has heard, “If you love me, you will . . . “

A. Sometimes we are like Jill, impatient and busy, not willing to take the time to LOVE. Often showing love is inconvenient because loving with the love of Christ does take time and compassion. It costs us something.

B. Love is hard for some to give. It means giving a part of your self. It means being obedient to the teachings of Christ Jesus and doing what He would do when the opportunity presents itself.

C. Love does not easily fit into a schedule; nor is it predictable when it is genuine.

III. VS. 20 – On that day you will know that I am IN my Father, and you IN me, and I IN you. There are 2 interesting words here. The word “IN” and the word “YOU”.

A. All three times the word “YOU” is utilized, it is in the plural form. Southerners know that as Y’ALL while in other parts of our country it could be translated as YOUSE GUYS. It is a plural, inclusive pronoun. It implies a group consciousness as well as a group identity. (We will know collectively and individually!)

B. The alternative translation of the word IN is AMONG. That implies that the Jesus is mingled with the Father, We are mingled with Jesus and Jesus is mingled with us. This implies that the WE of the gospel involves God, Jesus and Us together.

C. When we act in love towards others, they may experience God and Jesus. This happens through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Conclu: Quote or sing the song, “Love In Any Language” by Sandi Patti.

Je t'aime / Te amo / Ya ti-bya lyu blyu / Ani o hevet oth kha

I love you / The sounds are all as different as the lands from which they came and though our words are all unique, our hearts are still the same.

Love in any language, straight from the heart, pulls us all together, never apart. And once we learn to speak it, all the world will hear love in any language fluently spoken here.

We teach the young our differences. Yet look how we're the same:

We love to laugh, to dream our dreams, we know the sting of pain.

From Leningrad to Lexington, the farmer loves his land. And daddies all get misty-eyed to give their daughter's hand.