Meditation: John 13: A New Command
31-32 When he had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is seen for who he is, and God seen for who he is in him. The moment God is seen in him, God’s glory will be on display. In glorifying him, he himself is glorified—glory all around!
33 “Children, I am with you for only a short time longer. You are going to look high and low for me. But just as I told the Jews, I’m telling you: ‘Where I go, you are not able to come.’
34-35 “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”
5th Sunday of EasterLove one another. (John 13:34)
What would you say if you knew you had only one day left to live? The last words of a dying person tell us what he is most concerned about and what is most important to him. When Jesus told his disciples to love one another, he knew he didn’t have much time left. So this “new commandment” must have meant the world to him (John 13:34).
Did Jesus know his apostles were all sinners? Did he know they all had personal weaknesses? Of course he did! Nonetheless, he commanded them, as well as us, to do the one thing that sin, weakness, and selfishness find very hard: love one another. Why is this so important to Jesus? Because as far as he is concerned, people matter most.
So let’s not make any excuses. Let’s not hold back our love or give it only to the people who are like us. If Jesus had loved only those who thought the way he thought, then Peter, Mary Magdalene, John, and James would all have been left out in the cold.
Let’s also not allow the wrongs done to us keep us from loving. If Jesus had held onto everything that was done to him, he would have found no reason to sacrifice himself on the cross. But he put aside the desire for revenge and chose instead to live in love—the deepest and greatest love we will ever know.
Love makes all the difference, and Jesus knows that. He knows that all the sin in the world and all the divisions that come from sin came about because love was either misplaced or lost. And so Jesus asks us to love so that we can undo the reign of sin.
Nowhere is this call to love more vital than in our own families. “Without family,” Pope Francis has said, “life grows empty.” So today, decide to make a difference in your family by expressing your love. Don’t let disagreements get the upper hand. Try to bring people together. If we can just express love and kindness at home, we’ll see challenges melt away!
“Jesus, reduce me to love!” Amen!
Acts 14: Plenty of Hard Times
21-22 After proclaiming the Message in Derbe and establishing a strong core of disciples, they retraced their steps to Lystra, then Iconium, and then Antioch, putting muscle and sinew in the lives of the disciples, urging them to stick with what they had begun to believe and not quit, making it clear to them that it wouldn’t be easy: “Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times.”
23-26 Paul and Barnabas handpicked leaders in each church. After praying—their prayers intensified by fasting—they presented these new leaders to the Master to whom they had entrusted their lives. Working their way back through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia and preached in Perga. Finally, they made it to Attalia and caught a ship back to Antioch, where it had all started—launched by God’s grace and now safely home by God’s grace. A good piece of work.
27-28 On arrival, they got the church together and reported on their trip, telling in detail how God had used them to throw the door of faith wide open so people of all nations could come streaming in. Then they settled down for a long, leisurely visit with the disciples.
Psalm 145:8 God is all mercy and grace—
not quick to anger, is rich in love.
9 God is good to one and all;
everything he does is suffused with grace.
10-11 Creation and creatures applaud you, God;
your holy people bless you.
They talk about the glories of your rule,
they exclaim over your splendor,
12 Letting the world know of your power for good,
the lavish splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal;
you never get voted out of office.
God always does what he says,
and is gracious in everything he does.
Revelation 21: Everything New
1 I saw Heaven and earth new-created. Gone the first Heaven, gone the first earth, gone the sea.
2 I saw Holy Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God as a bride for her husband.
3-5 I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate.”
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