Have We Forgotten?

This past Sunday we heard again a portion of, the Maundy Thursday Gospel, John 13 — The commandment to love on another.

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. ³²If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. ³³Little 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.” ³⁴I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’ (John 13)

It tell of the moments just after Judas had left the Upper Room.  The last moment for Jesus to be with his disciples.

He uses these moments to reveal the most important, of his teachings, that he want them to know and remember.

The only thing that would be crucial in their ministry to the world around them: 

“Love”

That’s all. 

                        Just love. 

Forget about all the treasured orthodoxy of the past teachings and conditioning.

Noue of that really matters in the long run.

Gary D. Jones in his commentary writes:

“Jesus does not talk about the importance of the Bible or a careful constructed creed.  The New Testament would not even be written until two generations after Jesus’ death, and the Nicene Creed would be hammered out by combative theologians over the next 350 years.  The Bible and the Creed would become terribly important to human beings over the years, while the one thing most important to Jesus would get lost as Christians wrestle with power and orthodoxy…

“The commandment is not about what you believe; it is about how you live."(p.470)

…..not about a belief system, but a process……After all, Jesus did not say.  ‘They will know you are my disciple if you believe the right thing.” (p724)  ( Feasting on the Word, year C, volume. 2)

Somehow, through the years, Christians have gotten the message, to love, all confused with institutional religion.  We have forgotten to remember the one thing Jesus asked — to love.

So this morning I invite you to reflect on the simpleness of this last request Jesus makes.

“Love” --  simple yet profoundly complicated.

I am thinking that is why he addresses them, that last night, as “little children.”

³³Little children, I am with you only a little longer.

Little children understand the simpleness of Jesus’ request.