[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday evening, the 16th of December, 2018 at Paul's Chapel Church during the joint Advent service between Emanuel, Paul's Chapel, and Pilgrim Reformed Churches. This is the third Sunday in Advent, but because the second service was canceled due to the weather, this service combines the themes of "Love" and "Peace".]
Today is the 3rd Sunday in Advent, when we would normally consider the theme of peace. But since we missed the 2nd Sunday due to the huge winter storm, we’ll also ponder love this evening. And because your pastors and I decided I would bring the message this evening and since I had already prepared a message on love, then love will be the predominant theme. For on Christmas day, Love came down from heaven to earth and brought us peace. And even today as we celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus into this world while anxiously awaiting His return in all His glory, love is still what this world needs most.
There are many different aspects to love, aren’t there. Let me share with you a little story of the kind of love that can hurt the most: unrequited love. This may seem a bit odd for a message at Christmas time, but remember that we are also looking ahead to what is yet to happen. Listen to what the Apostle Mark recorded in his Gospel account in chapter 10, verses 17 through 22, and I’ll be reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
There are many different aspects to love, aren’t there. Let me share with you a little story of the kind of love that can hurt the most: unrequited love. This may seem a bit odd for a message at Christmas time, but remember that we are also looking ahead to what is yet to happen. Listen to what the Apostle Mark recorded in his Gospel account in chapter 10, verses 17 through 22, and I’ll be reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
--Mark 10:17-22 (NKJV)
Let us pray… Father God, You showed us Your love by sending Your only Son into the world to offer us salvation. Jesus showed His love by trying so hard to get us to see the truth, and then by giving His all just for us. We speak of love, but too often our actions and our words do not show our love, do not bring peace. Please teach us what true love means. Open our hearts that we might show love not only during the Christmas season, but every day all year long. This we pray in the blessed name of Your Son Jesus. Amen.
I called the story in our scripture reading one of unrequited love. Jesus loved this young man – Mark tells us so. Yet that love was not returned, for the young man loved his possessions more. And he walked away filled with sorrow, because he could not return the love Jesus held for him.
British pastor and author, James Packer, writes in his book, Your Father Loves You:
The Greek word agape (love) seems to have been virtually a Christian invention, a new word for a new thing. Apart from about twenty occurrences in the Greek version of the Old Testament, it is almost non-existent before the New Testament. Agape draws its meaning directly from the revelation of God in Christ. It is not a form of natural affection, however intense, but rather a supernatural fruit of the Spirit. It is a matter of will rather than feeling, for Christians must love even those they dislike. It is the basic element in Christ-likeness.
Rev. Packer brings out a number of interesting points. When we read the word “love” in our New Testament, we are being told of this agape type of love. Rather than a love of affection, it is one of the supernatural fruits of the Holy Spirit, as described by the Apostle Paul in the 5th chapter of his letter to the Galatians. And it is not so much a feeling as it is a matter of will. It is a love that we have to give on purpose.
Why? Because Jesus commands us to, and if we do indeed acknowledge and accept Him as our Lord and Master, then we must do as He commands. Perhaps the clearest statement of this comes from the Gospel account of the Apostle John, in chapter 13, verses 34 and 35 when Jesus says…
If it is a commandment, how else can we view it other than it being a command? How else will other folks know we are followers of Christ if we don’t have love for one another?
As Rev. Packer notes, loving others is a basic element in being like Christ, which we should all aspire to. The Apostle Matthew affirms that loving others is indeed a commandment, as he relates a conversation between Jesus and a scribe in his Gospel account, chapter 22, verses 36 through 40…
The great commandment from God, second only to loving God Himself, is to love our neighbor just as much as we love ourselves. Rev. Packer also notes that we are to love even those who dislike us. Again we’ll turn to Jesus’ own words, as recorded by Matthew in chapter 5 of his Gospel account, verses 43 through 48…
That’s a tough one, isn’t it. Love those who hate us, who would do us harm if they could, who curse us for what we are. Yet that is what we are called to… no, commanded to do.
It’s easy to love folks who love us - anybody can do that. But how many are willing to make the effort to love someone who truly hates them? Followers of Christ, to be Christ-like, must force themselves to show this strength of love and of will.
I’ve been talking a lot about loving others, but let’s not lose sight of where this love originates. There is one verse in our Holy Bible that more people know than any other, believers and non-believers alike: John 3:16. Say it with me…
God so loved the world, yes, but so did Jesus. Let me ask you this… Jesus lived in heaven with God before coming down to earth as a man. Jesus is God. Did He have to come as a baby? Did the God and Maker of all creation, fully in control of all the universe, have to come to us as a little baby who couldn't even control His own bladder and bowels? Did He have to try His parents' patience during the terrible twos? Did He have to go through a normal childhood, possibly being taunted or bullied by the other children? Did He have to endure those difficult teen years?
Could Jesus not have come down as a fully grown man, walked up to Andrew and Peter and said "Follow Me" and kicked off His ministry right there? They wouldn’t have known any difference. No, for Jesus so loved the world that He was willing to endure life just like us.
And Jesus still loves us. Another expression of His love can be found in chapter 14 of John’s Gospel account, in verse 27, when Jesus says…
God, through His Love, offered us peace. Jesus brings us true peace. What kind of peace does the world offer? We say there’s peace in the middle east when only a few skirmishes are fought. The world gives us peace for only a short time before throwing us back into the midst of turmoil! But Jesus brings us a peace that lasts, a peace that penetrates right to our very soul and stays with us. With the love of God, the love of Jesus, comes a peace that surpasses all human understanding.
Ignoring the fact that Jesus commands us to do so, can't we just show Him our love by loving others? Can’t we pass His peace along to those in great need?
We light the candles at Advent to show that our hope is in our coming salvation, which causes us to show love to others, which brings us peace that leads to joy in the coming Christ. Let’s show that love so that others may come to know the same hope we hold, feel the same peace, find the same joy. For Christ is coming. In the blessed name of Jesus. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, You sent Your only Son, into this world to redeem us from our life of sin, bring us peace, and offer us eternal life. Greater love has no one ever shown, greater love has no man even known. Thank You, Father, for Your wonderful, unmerited, unconditional love and for the everlasting peace You give. Forgive us, please God, when we fail to act on or even acknowledge Your love. Please give us the courage and the strength do as we are commanded and share Your great love with all others.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, repenting of our sinful ways, seeking Your forgiveness for our disobedience…
Lord Jesus, You gave Your all just for us. You suffered a cruel death, taking our sins to the grave, and then leaving them there as You rose again from the dead. You redeemed us by Your own precious blood – we are Yours. Forgive us, Lord, when we fail to follow Your commands. Forgive us when we hesitate to show the same love that You hold for us. Please help us put our belief into action by loving all others, by helping those who need our help, by meeting the needs we are capable of meeting.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Christ Jesus our Lord and Master. Amen.
I called the story in our scripture reading one of unrequited love. Jesus loved this young man – Mark tells us so. Yet that love was not returned, for the young man loved his possessions more. And he walked away filled with sorrow, because he could not return the love Jesus held for him.
British pastor and author, James Packer, writes in his book, Your Father Loves You:
The Greek word agape (love) seems to have been virtually a Christian invention, a new word for a new thing. Apart from about twenty occurrences in the Greek version of the Old Testament, it is almost non-existent before the New Testament. Agape draws its meaning directly from the revelation of God in Christ. It is not a form of natural affection, however intense, but rather a supernatural fruit of the Spirit. It is a matter of will rather than feeling, for Christians must love even those they dislike. It is the basic element in Christ-likeness.
Rev. Packer brings out a number of interesting points. When we read the word “love” in our New Testament, we are being told of this agape type of love. Rather than a love of affection, it is one of the supernatural fruits of the Holy Spirit, as described by the Apostle Paul in the 5th chapter of his letter to the Galatians. And it is not so much a feeling as it is a matter of will. It is a love that we have to give on purpose.
Why? Because Jesus commands us to, and if we do indeed acknowledge and accept Him as our Lord and Master, then we must do as He commands. Perhaps the clearest statement of this comes from the Gospel account of the Apostle John, in chapter 13, verses 34 and 35 when Jesus says…
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”--John 13:34-35 (NKJV)
As Rev. Packer notes, loving others is a basic element in being like Christ, which we should all aspire to. The Apostle Matthew affirms that loving others is indeed a commandment, as he relates a conversation between Jesus and a scribe in his Gospel account, chapter 22, verses 36 through 40…
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”--Matthew 22:36-40 (NKJV)
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”--Matthew 5:43-48 (NKJV)
It’s easy to love folks who love us - anybody can do that. But how many are willing to make the effort to love someone who truly hates them? Followers of Christ, to be Christ-like, must force themselves to show this strength of love and of will.
I’ve been talking a lot about loving others, but let’s not lose sight of where this love originates. There is one verse in our Holy Bible that more people know than any other, believers and non-believers alike: John 3:16. Say it with me…
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”--John 3:16 (NKJV)
Could Jesus not have come down as a fully grown man, walked up to Andrew and Peter and said "Follow Me" and kicked off His ministry right there? They wouldn’t have known any difference. No, for Jesus so loved the world that He was willing to endure life just like us.
And Jesus still loves us. Another expression of His love can be found in chapter 14 of John’s Gospel account, in verse 27, when Jesus says…
27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”--John 14:27 (NKJV)
Ignoring the fact that Jesus commands us to do so, can't we just show Him our love by loving others? Can’t we pass His peace along to those in great need?
We light the candles at Advent to show that our hope is in our coming salvation, which causes us to show love to others, which brings us peace that leads to joy in the coming Christ. Let’s show that love so that others may come to know the same hope we hold, feel the same peace, find the same joy. For Christ is coming. In the blessed name of Jesus. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, You sent Your only Son, into this world to redeem us from our life of sin, bring us peace, and offer us eternal life. Greater love has no one ever shown, greater love has no man even known. Thank You, Father, for Your wonderful, unmerited, unconditional love and for the everlasting peace You give. Forgive us, please God, when we fail to act on or even acknowledge Your love. Please give us the courage and the strength do as we are commanded and share Your great love with all others.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, repenting of our sinful ways, seeking Your forgiveness for our disobedience…
Lord Jesus, You gave Your all just for us. You suffered a cruel death, taking our sins to the grave, and then leaving them there as You rose again from the dead. You redeemed us by Your own precious blood – we are Yours. Forgive us, Lord, when we fail to follow Your commands. Forgive us when we hesitate to show the same love that You hold for us. Please help us put our belief into action by loving all others, by helping those who need our help, by meeting the needs we are capable of meeting.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Christ Jesus our Lord and Master. Amen.
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