John 15:9-13
9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
I was reflecting on the events leading to Jesus’ death on the cross last week.
• And was encouraged by these thoughts and would like to share it with you today.
• We’ll continue with Haggai’s last message next week.
I saw many powers working against Jesus in the last week of His life.
Beginning at the garden of Gethsemane, He went through an internal struggle, praying that the cup be removed if it was possible.
• The intense pressure to shun pain is human; it’s natural and we understand.
• As human we would naturally seek comfort and the easy way out, but Jesus hanged in there.
And there was the influence of the devil.
• Mel Gibson tried to factor that in, in the movie Passion of the Christ, when this figure confronted Jesus in the Garden, and then floated in while He was whipped.
• Thought unseen, I believe Jesus felt him.
And then we saw at the trials – not one but six trials in all - the powers of men, men in authority – political and religious powers.
• Trial 1: He was first brought before Annas (former high priest for 16 years and father-in-law of Caiaphas) – Peter denied Christ three times at his courtyard.
• Trial 2: Brought to the High Priest, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin Court.
• Trial 3: Before all the Jewish elders, including the High Priest, scribes and whole Sanhedrin. They decided to ask the Roman government to kill Jesus.
• Trial 4: So he went to the Roman governor Pilate, who declares, "I find no guilt in this man."
• Trial 5: Since Jesus was from Galilee, the territory of Herod Antipas, Pilate decided to send him there. Jesus refused to answer any questions so Herod returned him quickly to Pilate.
Trial 6: Pilate tried, repeatedly, to release Jesus but the Jewish leaders continued to object.
• He wished Jesus would say something, but Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge – to the great amazement of the governor. (Matt 27:14)
• Pilate did the next best thing and that is to have Jesus physically tortured and beaten, so that the Jewish leaders would be satisfied and he could release Jesus.
• He was also pressurised by his wife - Matt 27:19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."
The chief priests and elders managed to rally the crowd behind them.
• Pilate resisted the demand. He thought that by comparing Jesus to the notorious prisoner Barabbas, he would stand a chance.
Now that’s all a history.
• Jesus was finally crucified, after a week of power play.
• At a glance, Jesus seemed to be a victim of all these powers; helpless and meek.
• Everything seemed to be happening against Him.
• I saw the Passion of the Christ on Good Friday, after the service (on StarWorld) - Jesus seemed so helpless, speechless; unable to defence Himself.
• Isaiah described it so well (Isaiah 53:7): He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Then it dawned on me – there was another power at work…
It was not Pilate’s, although he has the power to sentence people to the cross.
• Jesus said, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” (John 19:11)
It was not the Jewish leaders’.
• Jesus said to Peter, after he drew a sword and struck a servant’s ear in the Garden, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt 26:53)
He was a victim of some sort.
• Not a victim of man’s political agenda, as we’ve seen.
• Not a victim of the mob power; and surely not the victim of the circumstances.
There was a power that was at work, greater than all these powers we saw.
• It kept Jesus on the road He wanted to take. It kept Him silent and submissive.
• You feel frustrated watching the movie Passion of the Christ. It takes great patience and humility for Jesus to remain so quiet, being the Son of God, in the midst of foolish creatures crying out for His death. Sinful people, saying foolish things about Him, while He stood there as the Son of the Almighty God! You feel like saying something and shut them up! It’s like seeing someone playing a puzzle and you’ve got all the answers and you’re standing there watching… don’t you feel like blaring it out?
• Yet Jesus remained quiet (almost throughout the trials). In fact, between the Garden and the cross, He spoke only 4 times.
Think for a moment. There was a greater force at play that was motivating Him.
• It is the power of love! The power that is greater than the political system, greater than the power of the mob.
• Love kept Him quiet and defenceless. Keep kept Him on the road to the cross.
Jesus once said, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:18)
There is only ONE power at play in this whole episode – the power of love.
• No wonder Jesus was exceptionally quiet. He has been preaching for 3 long years but He was remarkably quiet throughout the trials.
• No attempt at defending Himself. He was dead determined to go up the cross, and finish what He has to do, for your sake and mine.
• Love drove Him to the cross; love nailed Him to the cross.
No wonder Scripture says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Cor 13:4-8
What can really change you and me today?
• Not religion. Not Christian doctrines. Not a set of church rules and regulations.
• It’s the love of Jesus.
What makes me do what I do today? Love.
What makes you do what you do today? Love.
Nothing else can change you. It is the love of Jesus that moves you.
Sometimes, we find it hard to accept the fact that God loves us just as we are.
• I believe apostle Peter felt that way on the beach with the resurrected Lord.
• The world operates by conditional love – we accept you and love you on the basis of right performance.
• So when we come to Christ, there is often this natural tendency to assume we must strive to DESERVE our blessings.
God’s love can never be earned by human effort.
• There is absolutely nothing we can do to make God love us more or to influence Him to stop loving us.
• If Rom 5:8 says “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” it means it has nothing to do with you. It’s not about performance.
• We may understand this intellectually but have trouble believing it deep down in our heart.
• No matter what has occurred in your past or what you feel right now, the Father’s heart is always for you.
• Jesus’ love has always been freely given to you.
God pours His love upon us without exception—no ifs, or buts.
• He did not begin to love you at the moment you invited Him into your life.
• Nor did He begin to love you when you first started going to church or when you were baptised.
• In truth, God never BEGAN to love you at all; He always has.
No wonder the Bible says God is love. He does not just love. He is love.
• There is no one that is above Him, no power that is higher than the power of love.
Love kept Jesus on the road, for our sake.
• Love keeps us on the right path for God’s sake. For His glory we will persevere.
• Love will motivates us to serve and keep on serving, for the sake of His Kingdom.
And this is how others will see God’s love – through us!
• You see, while God’s demonstration of His love through the death of Jesus Christ is a fact of history, many people will never look at that historical fact until they see God’s love manifested in our lives.
• The world is looking at us for evidence that there is a God of love.
God works through love. There is great power in love.
The Power of Love
Newspaper columnist and Minister George Crane tell of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband.
“I do not only want to get rid of him; I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me.”
Dr Crane suggested an ingenious plan. “Go home and act as if you really loved your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him.”
“Make him believe you love him. After you’ve convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, and then drop the bomb. Tell him that you’re getting a divorce. That will really hurt him.”
With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, “Beautiful, beautiful. Will he ever be surprised?”
And she did it with enthusiasm. Acting as she was told. For two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, and sharing.
Two months passed. She didn’t return. Dr Crane called.
“Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?”
“Divorce?” she exclaimed. “Never! I discovered I really do love him.”
Her actions had changed her feelings. Motion resulted in emotion. The ability to love is established not so much by fervent promise as by often-repeated deeds.
That may be human love. Rom 5:5 says God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
• God has given us his divine love. It is there in our hearts. We need to let it out.
• Do it and let the world knows Jesus loves them.
Prayer
God, thank you for Your love. It is bigger than every struggle we face. It is more healing than the best medicine. Teach us to love, O God. Teach us to love one another through actions and not only words. Teach us to love others, help us to rise to that challenge. And may Your love be seen in our lives daily. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
