These are tough times. Many are quarantined at home. Many are struggling to get by. Many are unable to get to the store to buy need supplies. Many are hurting and unable to receive comfort because of social distancing. Many are scared and have diseases and other health issues. They wonder what will happen next. It is time like this we are called to care for one another. The sad thing is that we should have been doing all these things all along. Yes, we are all in this together. As the body of Christ, what affects one, should affect us all.
1 Corinthians 12:25–26 (NKJV) … that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Together we will get through this crisis. But those within the body are at an advantage over others, because we have each other to lean on. It is with this in mind Jesus says the following:
John 15:12–17
OPENING ILLUSTRATION: I read about a woman who telephoned a friend and asked how she was feeling,
"Terrible," came the reply over the phone, "my head’s splitting and my back and legs are killing me. The house is a mess, and the kids are simply driving me crazy."
Very sympathetically the caller said, "Listen, go and lie down, I’ll come over right away and cook lunch for you, clean up the house, and take care of the children while you get some rest. By the way, how is your husband Sam?"
"Sam?" the complaining housewife grasped. "My husband’s name isn’t Sam."
"Oh dear," exclaimed the first woman, "I must have dialed the wrong number."
There was a long pause. "Does that mean you’re not coming over?"
That housewife had hoped she’d found a friend. Someone who would be there in her need. Friendship is a powerful thing.[1]
We needs friends, we need to watch out for one another. These are difficult days for many. Some cannot get out and needed supplies, many are out of work and can’t pay rent. We need to watch out for those who need our assistance, especially those of the household of faith. Paul said as much:
Galatians 6:10 (NKJV) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
In John 13, two chapter earlier than our focal reading, still part of the same discourse Jesus had with His disciples on the night before He was crucified, Jesus tells his disciples:
John 13:34–35 (NKJV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Several things we can glean from this: One, it’s a command directly from Jesus to His people to love one another, and two, it is the means by which the world will tell whether or not we are really Jesus’ disciples. Churches that fuss and fight are not a good witness to Jesus. These churches are only disciples of Jesus in name only. Churches that show love for one another, show the world that they are Jesus’ disciples. This is nothing new. We have always said this.
But let’s look closer at this directive to love one another. It was a very important command. Important enough that Jesus repeats the command three times. In John 13:13 and again in John 15:12 and again in verse 17. Anything said three time times we need to straighten up and pay attention.
John 15:12 (NKJV) This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
The simple command is to love one another. Love is choice. It is not necessarily something you feel. To feel lovey-dovey is nice but feelings are not love. Love, and in the Greek the word used is the verb form of the noun “agapé ”. It is a self-sacrificing love; a love that expects nothing back in return; a godly type of love. It is with agape that we are to love one another.
Remember that Jesus is talking to His disciples, on how they are to treat and care for one another. He not talking about how they treat for and care for the rest of the world. Not that we are not to care for those in the world, we reach them with love and caring to be a witness, for the purpose of sharing the good news of Jesus (the Gospel) with them.
Our focus this morning is each other with in the fellowship of the Body of Christ, the church. For if we don’t first demonstrate care and true agape love for those within the household of faith, how are we expected to show this same love to those caught up in the world?
So the question is, how much do we love, how do we show that love? “as I have loved you.” We are mirror the love that Jesus has for us. And how much did Jesus love us? He loved us so much that He gave his life on a Roman cross to pay the penalty for our sins. God, Himself, gave us Jesus, He loved us.
Romans 5:8 (NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
And how could we ever forget the greatest memory verse, most of us had learned:
John 3:16 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
This is how much that God, through His Son Jesus, loved us. That is how much we are to love one another. This leads us to the next verse.
John 15:13 (NKJV) Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
Would we lay down our lives for another in the fellowship? For a brother or sister in the household of faith? The fact is, many of us would. If we are will to die for one another, then why is it so hard to give something a little less, like our time, energy, and resources, to help a brother or sister in need. Especially now, during this crisis we all are experiencing, this is where the rubber meets the road.
Many will say, “If I knew someone in need, I would be the first to call the church office and let the staff know about it.” Why? “Well that’s what we pay the pastors to do.” Really? My Bible tells me the pastors are there in the church to equip the saints so that they, the saints can do the work of ministry (Ephesian 4:11-12). What if my associate pastor or myself were infected with the COVID-19 and we were down for the count? Who would go and do ministry in our place? What are the saints to do?
1 John 3:17–18 (NKJV) But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Here is shocker, if you see a need and you have it within your abilities to meet that need, why not go ahead and do it. And don’t announce to the world what a swell thing you are doing. Jesus said:
Matthew 6:1–4 (NKJV) “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
We need to help others, not for reward, but because it is the right thing to do. Remember a basis definition for agape is to love with any expectation of anything in return.
And how does the world handle a need? Here is a standard answer from the people of the world about meeting the need: “Let the government take care of them.” A subject for another time is the fact that there is nothing in the U.S. Constitution mandating the government to care of people in need. For many years that was the church's responsibility. Congress just passed the $2.2Trillion rescue package (that’s Trillion with a big T). Everyone is going to get free money from the government. Where is all that money coming from? You just don’t give away money made from thin air.
The body of Christ, the church, for years have taken care of the poor and the disabled, but in the past century, that responsibility has been handed off to the Government. Let me say this, when the church took care of the poor, the church was lot more efficient and a lot less wasteful than the Government, and aid was distributed with more discretion. For example Paul said in 2 Thess. 3:10; “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”
Now let’s also be practical. If you know a need that you cannot meet, or you have a need yourself, yes, please call the church office. It is not always those in the church office can do something, but we often times know those in the church who can or we may have some access to funds if needed. This is why we maintain a benevolence fund. With this fund we help those within the family and as we are able, we help those in need in our community as well.
And as I have seen many times and witnessed first-hand, the church manages funds to help those in need much more efficiently than the government ever has done. We do a lot more with less money, than the government with their (our) millions. The church, in the name of Jesus, take a few dollars, and like Jesus dividing the loaves and fishes, do far more than the government does with millions. I know this to be true because I have witnessed it first hand.
Also, we need to be practical in this crisis and follow the instructions from those in authority. Social Distancing - We as God’s people, the body of Christ are subject to guidance and restriction handed down from the government. I deplore those churches who go against the guidance of our health officials who call for social distancing and not to gather in large groups. That is why our service and this message is being posted on-line and make DVDs available to those who are without computers/internet. We are charged by the Scripture to follow the dictates of the governing authorities appointed over us (Romans 13:1-7). We will not, especially when we know it is in the interest of public safety, go against them.
Churches who are ignoring the warnings of our health officials and saying they are trusting God are being foolish. If fact many of those churches are becoming epic centers of infection. No I haven’t been overseas or any hot areas, but someone I bumped into at Walmart has. We need to be sensible throughout this crisis. Stay home, keep our distance from others, wash our hands, communicate and keep connected by the technology we have available. Failure to do these things is not showing love to those who may be vulnerable to infection. This is why we are asking for you to worship with us online.
Yes, we are all in this together, and we each must do our part. If we meet the need of others and follow the command to really love one another, Jesus calls us His friends.
John 15:14 (NKJV) You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
But being Jesus’ friend is conditional, if we obey His commands. The Word tells us that Abraham believed and obeyed God and was called the friend of God. We are the friend of Jesus if we obey His command. And what, again is His command? To love one another.
John 15:15 (NKJV) No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
In verse 15 he tell us because we are His friend, He tells us everything through His Word that He has given to us and through His Holy Spirit, we are given understanding of His Word.
John 15:16 (NKJV) You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
Here is the neat thing. We did not choose Jesus, but rather Jesus chose us. Not because of who we are but because of who He is. And He choose us to go and produce fruit and we will be empowered to produce that fruit in His will. How do we produce fruit? Well for starters, we obey His commandment.
John 15:17 (NKJV) These things I command you, that you love one another.
Do we really love one another. How are we showing it. Are we loving others like Jesus loves us? We have His example given for us in His Word. The word tells us to love in deed and in truth. We are to do the practical things for one another. Yes give our very lives if need be, but in the meanwhile, give of our time and resources. How much are we willing to sacrifice for those of the household of faith?
We are all in this together. What will we being doing to lift up and encourage and aid one another to get though? The word tells us we are to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). What will we sacrifice for one another?
[1] https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/wont-you-friend-me-jeff-strite-sermon-on-forgiveness-for-others-167583?ref=SermonSerps
