JOHN 13:34-35 | LOVE

LO

VE

JOHN 13:34-35

FEBRUARY 14, 2016

THIS IS GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF SERMON.  IT ISN’T GOING TO HAVE THREE POINTS AND A CONCLUSION.

IT IS NOT A NARRATIVE SERMON, TELLING A STORY FROM SCRIPTURE AND SEEKING TO APPLY ITS PRINCIPLES TO OUR MODERN DAY LIVES.

IT ISN’T METAPHORICAL, LIKE THE STORY OF THE ONE-LEGGED MAN PUSHING A WHEELBARROW UP A HILL, INTENDED TO TEACH US ABOUT PERSEVERANCE.

IF I HAD TO CHARACTERIZE THIS SERMON AT ALL, I’D CALL IT FREE ASSOCIATION; THAT IS, SOMEWHAT RANDOM YET RELATED THOUGHTS, ALL OF THEM ON THE SUBJECT OF LOVE.

IF YOU HAVEN’T REALIZED IT YET, TODAY IS VALENTINE’S DAY, AND IF THAT’S CATCHING YOU BY SURPRISE, I’M GOING TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT SO YOU CAN QUICKLY THINK OF SOMETHING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR SWEETIE.

“OH, DIDN’T I TELL YOU, I’M TAKING YOU TO BRUNCH RIGHT AFTER CHURCH…”

“OF COURSE I HAVE A CARD FOR YOU, I JUST NEED TO RUN OUT AND PUT SOME GAS IN THE CAR, AND I’LL GIVE IT TO YOU AS SOON AS I GET BACK…”

“I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT ENJOY PICKING OUT YOUR OWN GIFT THIS YEAR, SO RIGHT AFTER CHURCH I’M TAKING YOU OUT SHOPPING…”

HOPEFULLY, YOU DIDN’T FORGET, BUT IF YOU DID, THERE’S STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO THINK OF SOMETHING FUN TO DO.

BUT THIS MORNING’S MESSAGE IS FREE ASSOCIATION ON THE TOPIC OF LOVE – AND WITH GOOD REASON, BECAUSE LOVE IS “A MANY SPLENDORED THING” AND MEANS MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.

“HOW DO I LOVE THEE?  LET ME COUNT THE WAYS…” AND THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS!

NOW I KNOW THE WORD LOVE GETS BANDIED ABOUT A LOT – MAYBE TOO MUCH, SOME MIGHT SAY, BUT CAN THERE REALLY BE TOO MUCH LOVE?

AND THE FACT IS, WE NEVER REALLY KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON INSIDE OF SOMEONE WHEN THEY SAY THEY LOVE SOMEONE OR SOMETHING.

WHEN A LITTLE BOY TELLS HIS MOTHER THAT HE LOVES HER “BASKETTI” HE’S SAYING MUCH MORE THAN JUST THAT HE LIKES NOODLES WITH MEAT SAUCE.

AND WHEN A 30 SOMETHING YEAR OLD WOMAN TELLS HER FATHER THAT SHE STILL LOVES ICE CREAM CONES – IT’S MORE THAN WAFFLE CONES AND ROCKY ROAD SHE’S REMEMBERING…

SHE’S THINKING BACK TO A TIME WHEN SHE WAS WALKING HAND IN HAND WITH HIM, ONE HAND IN HIS, THE OTHER COVERED IN STICKY, MELTING ROCKY ROAD ICE CREAM, RUNNING DOWN HER ARM.

IN THE BOOK AND MOVIE LOVE STORY, JENNY TELLS OLIVER BARRETT III THAT LOVE MEANS “NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU’RE SORRY.”

AND WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT I THOUGHT SHE MEANT, LOVE WAS NEVER DOING ANYTHING TO THE PERSON YOU LOVE FOR WHICH YOU WOULD NEED TO APOLOGIZE;

BUT AS I GOT OLDER I REALIZED THAT IS PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE, AND THAT WHAT SHE MUST HAVE MEANT WAS THAT WHEN WE DO SOMETHING TO SOMEONE WE LOVE, AND THEY LOVE US, THEY HAVE FORGIVEN US EVEN BEFORE WE CAN ASK FOR IT.

STILL, IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO SAY WE’RE SORRY; TO FORGIVE AS WE ARE FORGIVEN; AND BEST OF ALL, TO MAKE UP!

WHO CAN FORGET THE LAST SCENE OF BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S, AUDREY HEPBURN CHASING DOWN GEORGE PREPPARD IN THE RAIN, THE TWO OF THEM SEARCHING FOR THE ORANGE CAT, AND FINDING HIM, EMBRACING AND KISSING, WHILE “MOON RIVER” PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND AS THE MOVIE ENDS?

AND WHEN ANOTHER JENNY TELLS FORREST THAT HE DOESN’T WANT TO MARRY HER, THAT SHE’S NOT WORTH LOVING, HE TELLS HER:

“I’M NOT A SMART MAN, BUT I KNOW WHAT LOVE IS…” AND HE DOES.

HE’S KNOWN IT FROM THE MOMENT HE FIRST LAID EYES ON HER; FROM THE MOMENT SHE INVITES THIS ODD, OSTRACIZED CHILD TO SIT WITH HER ON THE SCHOOL BUS;

AND WHEN HE HELPS SAVE HER FROM HER ALCOHOLIC, ABUSIVE FATHER;

AND WHEN HE TRIES TO SAVE HER, PROTECT HER, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, FROM DRUGS, AND SINGING IN A STRIP CLUB, AND AN ABUSIVE BOYFRIEND;

AND WHEN SHE REVEALS THAT HER SON IS HIS SON, AND THAT SHE’S SICK, AND AGREES TO COME HOME TO GREENBOW, ALABAMA AND LET FORREST TAKE CARE OF THEM;

FINALLY, SHE KNOWS HOW MUCH HE REALLY DOES LOVE HER, AND SHE ASKS HIM TO MARRY HER, BECAUSE WE KNOW SHE LOVES HIM TOO, AND ALWAYS HAS.

LOVE IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE MOST SUNG ABOUT SUBJECT IN ALL OF HISTORY.

MANY OF US HAVE “OUR SONG” WITH THE ONE WE LOVE.

IN YOUR GENERATION IT MAY HAVE BEEN BY ONE OF THE GREAT CROONERS.

IN ANOTHER’S GENERATION IT MIGHT BE BOBBY DARIN, “EARTH ANGEL” BY THE PENGUINS, OR FRANKIE VALLEY.

THE SIXTIES WAS ALL ABOUT FREE LOVE, AND THE MUSIC WENT RIGHT ALONG WITH IT.

IN THE SEVENTIES DONNIE OSMOND SANG ABOUT “PUPPY LOVE;” JIM STAFFORD IN “SPIDERS AND SNAKES” OFFERED AS TO HOW “MOST OF MY LOVE WAS TOUCHING SMILES;” AND MICHAEL JACKSON ONCE SANG OF HIS LOVE FOR HIS PET RAT “BEN” WHICH WAS STRANGE EVEN FOR HIM.

THE LOVE SONGS OF “OUR DAY” BECOME THE LOVE SONGS OF OUR WEDDINGS:

THE CARPENTERS SINGING: “WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN;”

AND PAUL STOOKIE REMINDING US:

“HE IS NOW TO BE AMONG YOU AT THE CALLING OF YOUR HEARTS
REST ASSURED THIS TROUBADOUR IS ACTING ON HIS PART.
THE UNION OF YOUR SPIRITS, HERE, HAS CAUSED HIM TO REMAIN
FOR WHENEVER TWO OR MORE OF YOU ARE GATHERED IN HIS NAME
THERE IS LOVE. THERE IS LOVE.

BOB CARLISLE GOT IN ON THE ACT WITH HIS COUNTRY SONG: “BUTTERFLY KISSES.”

AND TODAY IT MIGHT BE “MARRY ME” BY TRAIN OR “LUCKY” BY COLBIE CALLET AND JASON MIRAZ.

TRUTH BE KNOWN – IT MIGHT BE AS MUCH THE SINGERS AS THE SONGS THEY SING THAT CONJURE UP THOUGHTS OF LOVE;

AS A 20 SOMETHING COLLEGE STUDENT WHEN OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN CAME TO MY UNIVERSITY IN CONCERT, IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT (ACTUALLY BEFORE I EVER LAID EYES ON HER) – AND OF COURSE, THAT AUSTRALIAN ACCENT!

FOR YOU IT MIGHT BE JAMES TAYLOR, JACKSON BROWN, LINDA RONSTADT, OR MICHAEL BUBLE; OR PERHAPS SOMEONE A LITTLE EDGIER – MICK JAGGER, STEVEN TYLER, OR DAVID BOWIE.

BUT SOMETIMES IT IS THE SONG – AND THE WORDS OF THE SONG – LIKE THE CURRENT HIT FROM MEGHAN TRAINOR AND JOHN LEGEND.

(YES, I LISTEN TO SOME OF TODAY’S MUSIC – MOSTLY BECAUSE OF KAREN.)

FROM THE SONG “LIKE I’M GONNA LOSE YOU:”

“SO, I’M GONNA LOVE YOU

LIKE I’M GONNA LOSE YOU;

I’M GONNA HOLD YOU

LIKE I’M SAYING GOOD-BYE;

WHEREVER WE’RE STANDING

I WON’T TAKE YOU FOR GRANTED,

‘CAUSE WE’LL NEVER KNOW

WHEN WE’LL RUN OUT OF TIME.

WE SEE LOVE IN THOSE HOLIDAY COMMERCIALS FROM PUBLIX:

THE THANKSGIVING ONE FROM A FEW YEARS BACK WHERE THE YOUNGER BROTHER IS KIDDING HIS OLDER SISTER ABOUT GOING AWAY TO COLLEGE, AND THEN LOOKS LONGINGLY AT THE PICTURE OF THEM TOGETHER ON THE FRIDGE: AND HIS SISTER SAYS, “I’LL MISS YOU TOO.”

THE CHRISTMAS ONE WHERE WE THINK THE DOE-EYED LITTLE GIRL IS BAKING COOKIES FOR SANTA CLAUS, ONLY TO FIND OUT IN THE END AS SHE RUNS TO THE DOOR WITH THE PLATE OF COOKIES, THAT IT’S GRANDPA FOR WHOM SHE’S BEEN MAKING THEM.

THE BIRTHDAY COMMERCIAL WHERE THE PARENTS ARE PRAISING THEIR GROWN UP DAUGHTER, HER FATHER TOASTING HER FOR HOW SHE CHANGED THEIR LIVES BY BRINGING AN ALTOGETHER NEW KIND OF LOVE INTO THEIR LIFE.

THERE’S A REASON THESE COMMERCIALS WORK – THEY STRIKE A CHORD WITH US – AND REMIND US OF THOSE WE LOVE, AND WHO LOVE US.

I LIKE THE NEW COMMERCIAL FOR KAY JEWELER’S TWO DIAMOND FRIENDSHIP RING – ONE FOR OUR LOVE, WHO IS ALSO OUR BEST FRIEND; BUT THE PART I LIKE BEST IS WHEN THE HUSBAND PUTS HIS HEAD ON HIS WIFE’S SHOULDER.

AND ALL OF THAT IS WELL AND GOOD – ALL OF THOSE QUIXOTIC PROMISES WE MAKE ON OUR WEDDING DAY: “FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE, FOR RICHER, FOR POORER, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH, AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE…”

BUT WHEN THOSE WORDS REALLY STRIKE HOME IS WHEN WE HAVE TO PUT THEM INTO EFFECT;

AND WHILE WE USUALLY TALK ABOUT THESE SORTS OF THINGS IN THE BROADEST OF GENERALITIES, THOSE OF YOU ON THE FRONT LINES, ADMINISTERING MEDICINES, OFFERING PERSONAL CARE FOR YOUR LOVED ONE, TENDING TO THEM IN THEIR TIME OF DYING, YOU KNOW THE REAL WORK THIS SORT OF LOVE TAKES.

LOVE IS STANDING BY YOUR PARTNER THROUGH ADDICTIONS, DEPRESSION, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND HOPEFULLY, PRAYERFULLY, COMING OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE TOGETHER.

IT’S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE, NOT EVEN ALWAYS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION, BUT WHEN IT WORKS OUT, IT CAN BE A GOOD THING.

LOVE IS THE HARD WORK OF BEING HURT AND FORGIVING, AND PUTTING IT ALL BACK TOGETHER AGAIN WHEN IT HAS BLOWN UP IN YOUR FACES.

LOVE IS THE DAY IN, DAY OUT; YEAR AFTER YEAR GRIND THAT MARRIAGE CAN SOMETIMES BE; EBBING AND FLOWING; LAUGHING AND FIGHTING; MINDFUL THAT LOVE IS NOT PERFECT, BUT CERTAINLY WORTH WORKING ON AND FIGHTING FOR.

LOVE IS HAVING YOUR SPOUSE TELL YOU THAT SHE WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU EVERY TIME YOU HAVE TO DRIVE UP THE KEYS, AND KNOWING SHE REALLY MEANS IT.

LOVE IS SAYING IT, MEANING IT, SHOWING IT, LIVING IT, GIVING AND RECEIVING IT.

AS WE ARE WELL AWARE, AS BELIEVERS, “WE LOVE, BECAUSE GOD FIRST LOVED US.”

SO HERE’S A LITTLE FREE ASSOCIATION OF WHAT WE KNOW OF LOVE FROM THE SCRIPTURES:

“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM, SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”

“THIS IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT, YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, MIND, SOUL, AND STRENGTH, AND THE SECOND IS LIKE UNTO IT: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’”

AND WHEN ASKED, “WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?”  JESUS RESPONDS BY TELLING THE STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN, AN ENEMY OF THE JEWS, WHO DID MORE FOR THE MAN IN NEED OF HELP, THEN EITHER THE PRIEST OR THE LAWYER.

BUT IT’S NOT JUST GOD, NEIGHBOR, AND SELF WE ARE TO LOVE, JESUS ALSO TELLS US TO “LOVE OUR ENEMIES, AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE US.”

AND THAT – “GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAT THEY LAY DOWN THEIR LIFE FOR ANOTHER.”

THE APOSTLE PAUL REMINDS US THAT IN CHRIST JESUS, NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THEN GOES ON TO LIST EVERY IMAGINABLE THING THAT MIGHT TRY:

“HARDSHIP, DISTRESS, PERSECUTION, FAMINE, NAKEDNESS, PERIL, OR SWORD?”

“NO, IN ALL OF THESE WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM WHO LOVES US.”

“FOR I AM CONVINCED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NOR ANGLES, NOR RULERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT, NOR THINGS TO COME, NOR POWERS, NOR HEIGHT, NOR DEPTH, NOR ANYTHING IN ALL OF CREATION WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.”

PAUL GOES SO FAR AS TO DEFINE LOVE IN WHAT WE KNOW AS THE “LOVE CHAPTER” IN I CORINTHIANS 13:

“LOVE IS PATIENT; LOVE IS KIND; LOVE IS NOT ENVIOUS OR BOASTFUL OR ARROGANT OR RUDE.  IT DOES NOT INSIST ON ITS OWN WAY; IT IS NOT IRRITABLE OR RESENTFUL; IT DOES NOT REJOICE IN WRONGDOING, BUT REJOICES IN THE TRUTH.  LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS, BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS.”

AND HE FINISHES IT OFF BY REMINDING US: “NOW FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE ABIDE, THESE THREE; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.”

WHEN JESUS IS UP AGAINST IT, WITH HIS LIFE COMING TO AN END, REALIZING THAT HIS TIME IS SHORT, AND IS GIVING HIS DISCIPLES THEIR MARCHING ORDERS, WHAT DOES HE SAY TO THEM?

WHAT IS ONE OF THE LAST, AND MOST IMPORTANT THINGS HE TELLS THEM?

“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.”

“AND THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE, BY OUR LOVE, YES, THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE.”

I KNOW IF YOU WERE PREACHING THIS SERMON YOU PROBABLY WOULD HAVE PICKED ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT MOVIES, SONGS, SINGERS, COMMERCIALS, ETC.

YOU PROBABLY WOULD HAVE COME UP WITH YOUR OWN FAVORITE BIBLE VERSES ON LOVE.

THERE’S SO MUCH I’VE LEFT OUT OF THIS SERMON ON THE SUBJECT OF LOVE AND NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH TIME TO SAY EVERYTHING WE NEED TO SAY:

• ABOUT GOD’S LOVE FOR US, AND OUR LOVE FOR GOD;
• ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS FOR US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER;
• WHAT LOVE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE REALLY IS;
• WHAT THE LOVE OF FAMILY DOES TO US;
• AND WHAT LOVING OUR ENEMIES MIGHT LOOK LIKE;

SO, I’LL JUST HAVE TO LEAVE IT WITH YOU; TO YOUR OWN FREE ASSOCIATION OF WHAT LOVE MEANS TO YOU, AND IN YOUR LIFE.

MY GUESS IS, YOU’VE ALREADY BEEN DOING THAT HERE THIS MORNING.

MY GUESS IS, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, I SAID SOMETHING THAT SENT YOU OFF IN YOUR OWN DIRECTION;

INTO YOUR OWN THOUGHTS OF LOVE, AND THE ONES YOU LOVE, AND WHO LOVE YOU;

OF TIMES GONE BY, OR TIMES RIGHT NOW, OR IN HOPES OF FUTURE LOVE.

THAT’S WHAT FREE ASSOCIATION MEANS – TO EXPRESS WHATEVER COMES TO MIND – WHEN YOU SAY: LOVE