Good Shepherd sermon May 18, 2025 John 13. 31-35
“Love Like Me”
Grace, mercy, and peace, to you, from God, the Creator, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, thru the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today’s passage is the beginning of what is known as “The Farewell Discourse in John’s gospel.” But, it really begins in verse 33, where Jesus says, “I am with you only a little longer,” and then concludes the verse by saying, “Where I am going you cannot come.”
But, it is in the midst of these words – very difficult words for the disciples to hear – that Jesus inserts the staple for all disciples to abide by.
While they were hearing the painful three-word phrase, “You cannot come,” the soul of the whole sentence, indeed this new commandment of love,
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
It is critical of this commandment to recognize that it follows Jesus’ most direct statement about his departure. This is important: this is not some generic, “nice” claim to love one another like we’re lost in flower-power, peace and right-on from the 1960’s; this is a vital order for the disciples to know and feel the presence of Christ when he is gone. Let me repeat that –
To know and feel the presence of Christ when he is gone.
Author/theologian, Karoline Lewis, says, “To love one another is for the sake of remembering the feeling of how Jesus loved them.” She didn’t say, “the first time” they felt Jesus’ love. No, probably because the feeling of his love is ever with them – ever with us.
Dr. Lewis continued with this powerful sentence, applicable to all who consider themselves disciples – ahem, you and me. She said, “Love is a mark of discipleship for the outside world to see, but it is also necessary for the disciples to show each other.”
Oh, how I love that image. Think of it – each disciple extending the hands of grace to all with whom they come in contact. Better yet, imagine this – each of us extending those precious hands of grace to all. And it begins with each other.
That’s the reason I begin each sermon the way I do – extending God’s God, mercy, and peace to you. That’s what each of us are called to do; you don’t have to be a pastor – just one with compassion. It’s really not impossible for us to do that. But, for some, it can be difficult.
Let me introduce you to a fellow named, “Donnie,” a couple of years my junior who had held a number of jobs in his career, with any chance of advancing success thwarted by his alcoholic lifestyle. Donnie lived on the streets of Dayton.
One Thursday morning at First Lutheran at a weekly get together called, “First Cup,” you know, come in and grab your first cup of coffee, the aroma of Donnie’s urine-stained clothing preceded his physical presence. He walked thru the wide arch to the left of the room where a few had already gathered and lifted his head in a kind of shameful manner exposing his dirty face with dried blood and a “mouse” beneath his left eye.
One of the men, nicknamed, “Vodka Dan,” came up to Donnie and hugged him. It didn’t make any difference what he said, his actions spoke volumes more than any cluster of words could project. Dan didn’t speak words of a disciple, as he snorted, “Where in the &%$#@ have you been? But…he did speak words of love, as Dan gave us “permission” to embrace Donnie thru the stench just as Jesus taught us.
Donnie told us that he had been mugged and his shoes were stolen from his feet. I asked, “Donnie, why would someone steal the shoes from someone who lives on the street?” He said, “Someone who doesn’t have any shoes.”
“Dear God,” I thought. I was ashamed of my insensitivity to Donnie’s aroma. Oh, the things we learn from the One who washes feet!
Whether you agree with this next comment or not, I would suggest that the stains of sin each of us have had during our lives have a particular stench to it as well. Granted, it may be a figurative odor, but an odor nonetheless.
Here’s the thing –
Jesus could care less.
Period.
He knows what we have been through, often carrying painful hurts that can make us angry, sometimes even acting out on our frustrations. Yet, the Lord of Lords remains constant, doesn’t he? I mean, look how often he continued to teach and reach those who were trying to be faithful disciples, yet they would fall short in word or deed. Jesus’ patience and love with them were the markers to remember and extend the same understanding and mercy to others. These disciples would recall those words and situations throughout their lives.
One of the situations that could never be dismissed or forgotten was what we observed on April 18th. It was the day when God’s love for humanity transcended any kind of love we could possibly imagine.
Good Friday.
Noooo – I’m not so sure Jesus is asking us to literally follow his example and die for another human, but I do believe he is requesting each of us have some of our preconceived notions and prejudices die. Have them die so we can embrace Donnie or anyone else who may initially bring our hurtful judgements to the surface. Thank God Jesus didn’t do that with us.
Would you agree?
Jesus freely gave his love for us to not only feel his love, he gave us his love to share it…regardless for whom, or to whom that love is directed.
In his book, simply entitled, Discipleship, Lutheran pastor, author, and theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, offered his response to loving neighbors, thus, all people:
“The question is, ‘What shall I do? The answer is: do the commandment that you know. You should not ask; you should act.’ ” Bonhoeffer went on to define who the neighbor is that we should love. He wrote, “You yourself are the neighbor. At every moment, in every situation I am the one required to act, to be obedient. I must be the neighbor to the other person.”
So…“What does ‘Love one another’ mean to us?”
When all hope was seemingly lost by any man, woman, or child, it was love that opened the door to be in the very Presence of Jesus. It is just as this church proclaims –
there is no one unwelcome there.
May we feel the compelling attraction of mercy and grace draw us in to the seamless world of God’s love thru the Crucified and Risen Christ. And, may that very love of our Savior be shared always – without question.
AMEN.