fellow disciples of Christ,
first, i want to say what a joy it has been for me to be alongside you guys as we have learned and experienced what the scriptures have to say about the disciples lives. we have so much to learn from the people that were closest to Christ as He walked this earth. the following verses are an incredible example of one of the experiences that the disciples had that shaped who they were.
“a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. by this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:31-35 ESV)
go back to earlier parts in this chapter and you will find Christ performing an act of love for His disciples that is so unexpected and unthinkable that it almost seems wrong. you will find Christ washing the disciples feet. the same disciples that He knows are about to betray and deny Him completely.
He says to them, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. “(John 13:14, 15 ESV)
going back to the first set of verses we looked at, i want to point out an interesting choice of words that Christ chooses. He uses the word “commandment” in regards to the love that we are to have for each other. if we had our way, we would change that word choice to “suggestion” or “this might work for you but if not don’t worry about it”. but still Christ chooses to use the word “commandment.” He does this because He knows what is riding on this principle. He knows that people who aren’t His disciples will know who is a follower of Christ by this one idea. that they love each other. but not just love each other in general… its that they love each other like Christ has loved them. its that they love each other enough to wash each others feet. its that they love each other enough to serve them in any way possible no matter how humbling it might be. we often are satisfied with loving each other enough to just have good feelings about them or maybe enough to say something nice to them. that kind of love is fine, but really anyone can love like that. the disciples of Christ are commanded to love far beyond what the world knows of love. we are commanded to intensely and humbly serve each other.
i’m not sure if this was a quote from Brent or not but in the description of the current “big church” series it says, “love simply defined or explained doesn’t have the same impact as love experienced or lived. “
that is SO true. we can talk about loving each other all we want, but no one will see that. they need to experience it and live it to fully understand the depths of the love of Christ.
so… all that to say, i’m calling us out. this love is not suggested, or encouraged, it is commanded. and it may be our best tool for reaching a world that is broken and hurting and dying for true love. its up to us to show them where that love is at.
-Brantley
