What's love got to do with it?

Scripture John 13

When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

Observation:

This takes place on the night when Jesus was arrested.  In the Gospel of John, just before his arrest, he begins a long monologue to his disciples.  It is four chapters in length and ends in a long prayer, chapter 17.  These chapters serve as Jesus' last will and testament.  He is saying goodbye, leaving them with instructions, resources, promises, words of affection and love.  And finally he prays for them, for their ongoing mission, and for the people they will encounter on the way.  As Jesus says goodbye, he gives them a glimpse of what's next.  Its clear that what he started isn't ending with his death.  Its only just beginning there.   

Application:

Notice Jesus does not say:  By this everyone will know you are my disciples, that you are a member of a congregation.  Or that you go to worship on Sundays.  Or that you give a tithe. Or that you wear certain clothes and avoid certain foods.  Christianity has developed criteria for belonging that Jesus himself did not require.  Discipleship is characterized by love.  They'll know we are Christians by our love. Not romantic love.  Not even brotherly love.  But agape love.  Jesus kind of love.  He commands them to "Love one another just as I have loved you."  So how did Jesus love them?  With grace.  Patience.  Consistency.  Presence.  Generosity.  He chose them.  He identified them as people with the potential to learn and carry on his mission. He chose them not because they were special but because he recruited people who were generally overlooked, under appreciated, or even disregarded.  He chose them because they represent this movement of anybodies.  He chose unlikely disciples to build a church.  Maybe you're one of those, an unlikely participant in the movement of God in the world.  Maybe you don't even see yourself as part of something greater yet.  But you are!  You have been chosen, called, selected, and recruited to continue the love revolution!  The quality of our IN relationships is important.  We are stronger and more capable when we actually love each other.  We are called to do hard things sometimes.  And we need supportive, sustaining love to do them.  The great news is the only job we have to do together is to learn and enact Jesus' way of love.  It's a lifelong endeavor and I have a long way to go to love like him.  But we're learning.  Daily I am placed in the lives of people who need Jesus' love--mercy, compassion, hope, joy, peace, friendship, personal investment in their lives.  I can only love as much as I have been loved. Because of you all, I am able to love far more people better. When we take the walk together, the walk gets easier and the burdens get lighter.  When we push in and show up, Jesus appears.  So how can we love one another better as disciples and friends?

Prayer 
Lord, with patience, grace, and presence you loved your disciples.  Help us to love one another, to care for each other, to be real with each other, to encourage and support each other, to bless and serve each other.  So that they might know we belong to you and thirst for the love we share.   Amen.