Love's Full Demonstration

Introduction

Social media has provided a format for all kinds of wonderful interactions. While I do not have a Facebook account or Twitter or Snapchat or Instagram or most any other form of social media contact, I know that such tools provide lots of positive interaction for people. To find friends from long ago and to reconnect or to share something that someone has written that is especially insightful can spread a message quickly. We know that people are connecting through the use of these tools and that they play a valuable role in helping to share information that hasn’t been available in previous generations.

We also know that these tools have some disadvantages. Those who spend 3 hours or more a day on Facebook have higher rates of depression. The mind sees the “good” life of others and begins to despise their own. What isn’t seen on these pages is the struggle. Social media while providing a stage for interaction also provides a stage for venting. We are honored to see people’s meals and to hear about the flat tire they had this morning with the expectation that someone will at least share in the tragedy of the day. To wake up with a headache and share that with the world is now possible. Sympathy can be acquired and perhaps the person carries on feeling better. This has an advantage of shared pain but it also has the disadvantage of increasing complaining to higher levels.

The other observation about social media is how quickly and easily messages about politics or issues can be discussed. The advantage is that knowledge and opinion (which are not the same thing) can be shared instantaneously. The disadvantage is that the sharing of opinion is often viewed as factual when it is not. But as a result of social tools, opinions form quickly and lines are drawn about who is in my camp and who isn’t. I have lived long enough to see divisiveness in a previous generation. Some of us are old enough to remember the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the hatred that was espoused during those tumultuous days. Some of us are old enough to remember the fallout from the Vietnam War and the ugliness of protests that turned not only bloody but further divided our country. Some of us are old enough to remember college students shutting down college campuses demanding that changes be made. While there is a lot of division in our country now, it isn’t new nor is it unique. We have seen this before. Some say it is worse now. To compare now with previous episodes of divisiveness turns this into a competition and when it comes to divisiveness no one wins.

In 1965, two of the most prolific writers of their era, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, wrote the song “What the World Needs Now Is Love.” That song became the anthem for a generation trying to figure out a world that didn’t make a lot of sense at the time. “What the world needs now is love, sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of. What the world needs now is love, sweet love. No not just for some oh but just for everyone.” Has the need decreased? We know it hasn’t.

The anthem of the 1960s has given way to electronic tools as people try to connect with one another. While there is more information and more possibilities for global relationships, people still feel isolated and alone too often. We work in cubicles; we lock ourselves behind barred doors; we sit in silence in front of our tvs; fellow surfers leave us short pithy messages with no real substance or a story that is supposed to make us feel good or think or weep and the emotions come but they are shared through a screen not with someone.

When Jesus said that we are to love one another just as he has loved us, do you think he had something specific in mind? Do you think he was talking about a love that was real and open and vulnerable and giving and genuine? Does the world still need love, sweet love? Do you need it? I want to suggest that it is time that we took the words of Jesus seriously and lived them out in our culture. How do we live that kind of love? Watch Jesus.

Betrayal, Denial, and Love

Reclining at the Passover table with his most trusted friends, Judas Iscariot has determined to betray Jesus. We are never told why Judas betrays Jesus. But if the Bible did tell us his motivation, it would not change the result. Jesus is going to be crucified as a result of Judas’ action. Do not think that Jesus is calm. Jesus is agitated as this betrayal begins (see verse 21). The word means to be filled with anxiety and dread. His announcement that one of them eating this meal would betray him is met with understandable disbelief. Jesus reveals who it will be with a sign, but none of the disciples pick up on it. Judas leaves the room and when he does Jesus is now free to discuss matters that are vitally important. From 13:31 through chapter 16 are known as Jesus’ final discourse — Jesus’ final words to those that he loves.

Final words are important words. These final words begins with a direct command — Love each other. But these disciples are not told just simply to love but are told how to love — with the same love as Jesus. Washing disciples’ feet with humility kind of love; dying on a cross kind of love; selfless love; giving love; sacrificial love; costly love. The result will be proof that Jesus is real. This kind of love isn’t easy. This kind of love is costly. This kind of love is uncomfortable. This kind of love means we have to be involved with people. But not just any people — each other. But we can do that when we see how Jesus has really loved us. God loves you with an unfailing love.

Why do we need this kind of love? Jesus says this right before the revelation that Peter is going to deny him three times. This strong presence will deny. He will need love. Jesus knew what we know is true — we all need love. We all need to know that we are accepted even though we are weak and imperfect. This kind of love is needed when we sin. This kind of love is needed when we betray our Lord. This kind of love is needed when we mess up so badly we think no one will ever understand.

Jesus loved authentically and so must we. The arrangement for the table is very different from our arrangement today. People reclined at table to eat. The seats of honor would have been closest to the host. Verse 23 tells us that the disciple Jesus loved is next to him. He leans against Jesus to ask him who is going to betray him. This disciple is long believed to have been John so we know John is sitting next to him. Jesus hands the bread to Judas. He doesn’t ask the disciples to pass it to Judas at the end. He hands it to Judas. Judas is in one of the seats of honor. That’s love.

ILL. “Love: Bill Wilson story.”

So love with the love that Jesus showed. Love the one who messes up. Love the one who is your enemy. Love each other so deeply and profoundly and faithfully that we reveal Christ’s love. Let’s love like Christ so that the whole world will know that we belong to him. How do we do that? Look at verse 3 — Jesus knew he was from God and that he was returning to God. Jesus knew exactly who he was and what his purpose in this life was. When we know that this life is about God and isn’t about us; when we know that this life is to reveal the glory of God and not our own; when we know that we have been loved deeply by the God who gives us life, then, and only then, will we love this way. We will not love perfectly, but we will love more and better than we have ever done before. Jesus’ promise is that when we love as he loved others will know that our faith is real. Do you love this way? Why not? It’s painful. It’s uncomfortable. It requires too much. It hurts. If our Savior can go to a cross for us, then we can love each other and others. After all, this life isn’t about us, it is about him.

Invitation.

Follow Jesus

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