Title: The Christian's Evidence/John 13:31-35
Content Christian witness/John 13:31-35
Key Verse: “I give you a new commandment: Love one another, love one another as I have loved you” (verse 34).
Word: In modern times, people are sick because they lack love. There is no cure for this other than the way to restore love. This is an era in which we miss a community of love that wants to give and share first rather than claiming its own like the early church. I don't want to show love and kindness, I want someone to be kind, but no one responds. Our Christian evidence is only 'love'. In other words, we can become Christians only by keeping the new commandment, the Christian commandment. What is the meaning of the new commandment that Jesus spoke of?
First, this love is not for the righteous, but for the sinner. God's love is not about who can love, what kind of person he loves, or who can receive my love, but rather makes him an object worthy of love. It means creative love.
Second, Jesus' love was action. He did not love Him because He was on high, but He Himself came to this earth. And you gave yourself. More importantly, he gave his life. In John 15, Jesus not only said, “Greater love hath no one than this, that one lay down one's life for one's friends.” He put his life into practice and gave his life according to the word.
Third, the love of Jesus means that we are righteous. He loved sinners as friends and as righteous people. When Jesus saw an 18-year-old woman possessed by a demon and a mad woman walking around naked, He said, “This is the daughter of Abraham.” In order to love sinners, I must become a sinner and go forth and receive him as a righteous person. It is love to welcome people from the dead to living, perfect righteous, children of God, and people of God. It is love that I pay the price to justify a sinner.
Prayer: Help us to imitate the love of Jesus and practice love. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.
Lord's Prayer
Shin Kyung-ha (Ahyeon Methodist Church)