“A new command I give
you: I have loved you,
so you must love one
another.
By this all men will
know that you are my disciples,
if you love one
another.”
John 13:34 (NIV)
The
scene is in the upper room. Judas has departed to attend to his plans. Jesus
had excused him from the meal. After Judas left, Jesus spoke of His being
glorified and of the Father’s glorification as well as His own. Jesus tells them his time with them
is short. He also tells them they cannot follow Him (at that time.) He then
gives them a new command: “As I have loved you, love one another.” How do these
eleven men manage to carry this out?
Shortly
after this scene, it seems each of them go his separate way. They do this
because the message Jesus had tried to give them didn’t make sense. They were
grief-stricken. They chose to go to the place where Mary was because something
inside them may have told them that they would find peace if they were all
together.
We, in
the 21st Century, do the same thing. When something tragic or unhappy happens,
believers congregate together to console each other. We send encouragement or
condolence cards. These acts are born of love.
Recently,
a lady from our church went home to be with Jesus. She was 98 years old. My
visitation partner and I saw her about every other week. When a group from the
church went Christmas caroling, her assisted living facility was the second
place we visited. She was elated and even had us go down the hall so she could
introduce our pastor to one of her friends. Everyone who knew this lady loved
her. She had some good stories to tell about her life.
We know
this lady is in heaven with Jesus. Her family has been through some very tough
times. God’s people are praying for
them.
Good post Cecelia, it inspires me. Someone asked me to do a blog series about (biblical) friendships... and here you are, writing about the love we should have for one another. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMarja: It is always nice to hear from you. Thank you for your warm comment. We should treasure our friendships. God gives us people as friends to enrich our lives. Blessings to you and yours.
DeleteSo sorry to hear about your friend passing, but glad we know she is dancing with Jesus. We need each other's love and help to get us through, don't we?
DeleteThank you Jeantte: This lady was one of the ones I tried to visit ever two weeks. Yesterday my visitation partner went to visit the ones we see. It didn't seem right not to go see her. But her family knows where she is and I know she is seeing her husband and her son-in-law and telling Jesus about all of us waiting to join her.
DeleteHi Cecelia! What good work you do on your visits! I know that she appreciated your kindness and faith so much. And you are right, when things are not going well, we do all flock together for support. Thank goodness for our friend and family!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Ceil
Ceil: Thank you for your kind words. My visitation partner and I love the ones we see. Blessings to you and yours.
Delete