God's Love

 

 

Jesus' teaching in John 14:23-29 calls for believers to keep Jesus' Word and claims that those who do not love Jesus do not keep his words, and the inverse is true as well; those who do not keep Jesus' word do not love Him. In this Gospel reading, the profound theological point is that God's presence imparts peace and love and builds a home for those who abide in God's word. A home for God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

In verse 26, Jesus assures the disciples that the Holy Spirit will remind them of what Jesus had taught; and continue teaching them what they need to learn to continue building God's kingdom. Thus comes the Christian perspective that God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, inspires Scripture, not like someone dictating a letter to an assistant but inspired by the Holy Spirit to the spirit of New and Old Testament writers. Jesus takes it to a new level when he says those who love Jesus and keep his word are continually being taught and nourished by God.

If we read John's message without pausing to consider the outcome of not loving Jesus and keeping his word, we may fall short in our understanding. Jesus asks his followers to do more than quote a creed or say a prayer of repentance. 

Jesus says, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our (God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) home with them." 

I take from this reading a call for followers and those who want to be followers of Jesus to be intentional about their relationship with God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Three in one, working together as One to help us grow in our faith and understanding of God, our creator, and about ourselves as God's beloved creation.

Little Children

 

New Testament reading: John 13:31-35  
In today's Gospel reading, after Judas leaves the room and sets in motion a chain of events that will lead to Jesus' death on the cross, Jesus gives the disciples a new commandment. Jesus says, "Little children … I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another" (John 13:33-34). 
   Jesus knew Judas was going to betray him. The Gospel writer makes this clear earlier when Jesus was washing the disciples' feet and tells Peter, he is clean, though not all the disciples are clean." The writer then adds, "he said this because he knew who was to betray him." 
   So, Jesus waits for Judas to leave before commanding the disciples "to love one another." I wonder what the disciples thought when Jesus called them little children. Many of us might find it degrading to be called 'little children.' Yet, I believe it caused the disciples to be more attentive to what Jesus was saying. Perhaps they remembered Jesus saying, "the kingdom of heaven belongs to the children" (Matthew 19:14). 
   Jesus had just said he was leaving, and where he was going, they could not go. I wonder if they made the connection. They often missed Jesus' point. We would probably be just as confused in their shoes. We are fortunate to know the rest of the story; understanding comes only after reading the Gospel story and then rereading it to discern the message with a sense of where the story is going. Knowing the end of the story helps us as we journey with Jesus to the cross.
   When the writer refers to the audience as little children in the New Testament, it is not only a term of endearment; it identifies the audience as faithful disciples of Jesus. In First John, the writer calls the congregation he is writing to little children when he tells them, "they are from God and know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. He tells them to love one another because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 6-8). 
   So maybe when Jesus called the disciples little children, he was complimenting them on their spiritual growth. 
Something to Ponder on the Lord's Day!