Created to Love
John 13:34-35
I. You and I were created with the capacity to love
Even though we think we do we need no provocation to love
We have stories of love at first sight and of course we call that foolishness
But for those of you who have children and grand children you remember when that child was born you loved at first sight if fact there was something going on even before the baby was born
We are created with the capacity to love
In Peterson and Seligman’s book Character Strengths and Virtues
They identify three prototypical forms of love:
• Child’s love for a parent
• Parent’s love for a child
• Romantic love
But they leave out Godly love
Relationships can begin with one type of love and acquire other type over time
There may be different levels but all have the capacity to love
II. We are all created with the ability to give or receive love
I believe that we make the decision to love or not
God is calling us to love on another level
Anyone can love;
Someone who is generous
Someone who is kind
Someone who has something to offer
But to love without pretense without conditions is another matter
1Jn 4:8 God is love.
III. Loves Logic
a. The foundation of all creation is love
b. Love literally drives God
He is motivated by love
Here it is John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son
c. Loves logic is that love conquers all
d. Jesus knew that there would be competition among the disciples yes some wanted to be greater than others
He knew some would put down others to lift themselves up
But He also knew if he could get them to love each other they could survive
IV. Loves new demand
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (vv. 34–35)
The old command was to love thy neighbor as thyself
Problem: in some cases there was no self love
The old love was divisive
The old love made distinctions
The old love discriminated
The new love;
Removes barriers
Removes boundaries/ unrestricted
Crosses all lines i.e. Cultural, racial, ethnic, colorblind, blind not ignorant but chose to ignore, put up with, tolerate….
Friction develops when believers rub against one another
V. Loves new object
The object was now “one another.” The Jews had watered down the Mosaic teaching so they could love whom they wanted and hate whom they wanted.
But Christ changed the object from “neighbor” to “one another.”
VI. Loves Example
As I have loved you
While the old command was difficult to keep love your neighbor as yourself
It is difficult to love as Christ loved yet it is the command
How did he love, sacrificially?
These are forms of the Greek verb ἀγαπάω (agapaō).
This verb is usually translated as “love,” but this English term is a poor substitute for the Greek verb.
In this context agapē (the noun from this verb) is “unselfish love.”
It is “self-giving love.”
It is “love without expectations of returned affection.”
It is pure love, the love that acts simply out of the conviction that the right thing must be done for another human being.
He loved even Judas
Though Judas was the enemy the Savoir reached out to him
VII. The evidence of discipleship
By this will men know that you are my disciple
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
That great theologian Jimmy Durante sang decades ago:
Love is the answer,
Someone to love is the answer…
Make someone happy,
Make just one someone happy,
And you will be happy, too.
