In Jesus Holy Name May 14, 2023
Text: John 14:15 Easter VI Redeemer
“To Be Loved”
Last Sunday I suggested that as we read chapters 13-17 in John we should try imagine ourselves in the Upper Room listening in on the conversation Jesus was having with His disciples. These are His words shared during the Passover meal before He and His disciples leave for the Garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus said, “A new commandment I give you, …. love one another; as I have loved you.” (John 13:34). The final phrase is the essential one – as I have loved you.” We cannot live without “love”. To be loved…is critical to our well being. When someone loves you, they accept you for who you are, including your strengths and weaknesses. They support you, encourage you, and want what is best for you. Love is an emotional bond that makes us feel safe, understood, and valued. That is what our mothers have done for us.
This is Mother’s Day. It is a day to give thanks to our mothers for all their patience, selflessness, kindness and care. They have been and are our cook and counselor; maybe our beautician, barber, and budget director. Your mother’s love conquered your shortcomings; and with faith in your future, overlooked your failures.
Motherhood is a special and important role that requires great love, patience, and sacrifice, mercy and forgiveness. These descriptive words are descriptions of the character traits of God that were displayed in the life of Jesus. When we experience patience, selflessness, kindness, care, mercy, forgiveness and love in our homes, it enables us to understand the love to Jesus.
So today, mothers will receive flowers, cards, scribbled notes from children and grandchildren, hugs and kisses. Every mom knows that children and husbands can be cranky, stubborn, selfish, and say cruel words. A mom loves and shows mercy because love overcomes bad attitudes. A mom loves because she has experienced God’s love and mercy. A mother loves because she is imitating Jesus.
Last year around Thanksgiving time, a four-year-old boy was separated from his mother in the large supermarket. Confused but not panicked, he began to walk up and down the aisles calling out his mother's name: "Melissa! Melissa! Melissa!" Eventually, from the next aisle down, his mother heard him and called for him to stay where he was. Mother and son were soon reunited.
As they finished their shopping, mother gently corrected, "Honey, you shouldn't call me 'Melissa.' I'm 'Mother' to you." With wisdom beyond his years, the boy replied, "Yes, I know, but this store is full of moms. I wanted you." The boy was right. The world is full of moms, but our mom is one-of-a-kind. Only she would be committed enough to changing our diapers and washing sheets and pajamas when flu struck in the middle of the night; only she would gush over a handmade Mother's Day present.(from Rev. Ken Klaus May 14 2006)
We cannot love if we aren’t first loved. Just this week a young police office was shot and killed in Chicago. She was going to graduate from Loyola with a Master’s Degree. Her mother’s response when interviewed was: I’m sorry for those who killed my daughter, they have never experienced love nor do they understand the love of life.” She was talking about the values of Jesus no longer experienced in many homes.
That’s why Jesus said… Love one another “as I have loved you.” Because He has loved us first, because He has shown mercy first, we then love in return. Because we have experienced “love” from our mothers, in our homes, we can understand the command of Jesus to “obey His commandments” and “love one another”. For God is love. Love, acceptance experienced brings peace, stability.
Read through Scripture. You will see God's love and commitment. When God created the world and made Adam and Eve, He loved them. When they broke the only command they had been given, God did something you and I would not have done: He kept on loving them -- indeed, He promised to send a Redeemer to save them from sin, death, and Satan.
The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all had their shortcomings, but God's love and commitment remains secure. The prophet Moses sins, strong man Samson slips, but God's commitment stands firm. God remains committed and steadies the slingshot of a shepherd boy and brings down a giant; God's commitment stands in Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego and shuts the lion's mouth to save Daniel's life. God's people wander, but His commitment does not waver; His children grow corrupt, but His commitment continues on.
God loves us. God is committed to us, not only for our eternal salvation but our daily existence. Christ came to fulfill God's commitment of love. Before Jesus was born, He knew the price He would pay to keep His Father's promise of salvation. Even so, Jesus kept God's commitment to save us as He fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies which identified Him as the Savior. The blind received their sight, the lame walked, the lepers were cleansed, the deaf were given hearing, the dead were raised up, and the poor - they had good news preached to them.
Jesus knew the cost of God’s love for His creation. He was not deterred in the wilderness by the temptations of Satan. He continued to tell people that He was God’s appointed Messiah even when those in His home town tried to stone Him. He did not give up on Peter who would deny even knowing Him. After His resurrection from death and the grave Jesus had a conversation with Peter.
Jesus asked: “Peter do you love me?” Jesus asked three times. And Peter three times answered, “Yes, Lord you know I love you.” Then Jesus said.. “Feed my sheep.” That was His command given to Peter. “If you love me, Peter, keep my teachings.
John 14:23 Jesus said: “If any one loves me he will keep my teachings. Jesus is emphasizing the importance of obedience to His teachings. Jesus does not say that if we obey His teachings we will earn His love. Rather He says that if we love Him, we will obey His teachings. Actions matter.
The love Jesus is referring to is not an emotional feeling but a decision to implement His teachings in our lives. The brother of Jesus wrote : (James 2:14-18) What good is it if you claim to a have faith but have no deeds. Suppose a brother of sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; Keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about his physical needs what good is that. Faith must be accompanied by action.”
What are the teachings of Jesus? There are many but here are critical ones.
1. Jesus is the “I AM”, the Yahweh of the Old Testament. He divided the water of the Red Sea so the Israelites could flee Pharaoh’s army. When Jesus said “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” It meant that Jesus could say to the raging waves of the Sea of Galilee. “Be still”. And it was so.
2. Because Jesus was God incarnate, God in flesh and bone, by His authority He could say to the paralyzed man. Your sins are forgiven, rise and walk. And he did. By His authority He cast out demons and raised the dead.
a. The first teaching of Jesus is to acknowledge that He is the Creator of the Universe. Colossians 1:15-22
b. The second teaching of Jesus is that you must place your faith in His death on the cross for it was there that your sins are forgiven. Romans 5:1-6
c. The third teaching of Jesus is that we are saved by grace and grace alone, not by trusting in our good works. Ephesians 2:8-9
d. The fourth teaching of Jesus is to love God and your neighbor. Mathew 22:37-38
e. The fifth teaching of Jesus is to forgive when you have been wronged and show mercy. Matthew 18
f. The sixth teaching of Jesus is know that He is at the right hand of God the Father in heaven and we can come to Him with any request that brings glory to His name and power. We have access to the throne of God. John 14:13-14
g. The seventh teaching of Jesus is to allow His Holy Spirit to live in our life, teaching us His words, teaching us what good works He wants us to do, enabling us to produce the fruits of His Spirit, the first of which is “agape” love. John 14:17 Romans 12 Galatians 5:22ff
h. The eight teaching of Jesus is to know that He will raise from death and the grave all who believe in Him. Philippians 3:20-21
i. The ninth teaching of Jesus is that He has called us to be a blessing to others and tell His story so those who are spiritually lost may be saved. Acts 1:8ff
“If you love me, you will obey my teachings and the Father will give you the Spirit of truth.”
(Note: this text could lead in several directions...)
