Commanded to love
Commentary
How can love be commanded? Is it not supposed to be spontaneous? If we are just following commands does that not rob love of its freewill and make it a new following of the rules?
Well, that depends on what you are talking about when you use the word love.
Couples who come to my office to prepare for a wedding tell me that they are in love, that they love each other enough to make eternal covenant with one another. When I ask them to tell me about love they are tongue tied and tell me that it is just love, that's all.
I know what they do not know. I know that for this moment in their lives they are probably all caught up in romance, erotic love, love with a passion that they think will never die.
It is my task to speak to them of a different kind of love and to remind them that if they do not have this other love their marriage does not have a chance. That love is what we Christians call "agape" love. This is love centered in the well being of another person. This is love that stands ready to make sacrifice, to give all, to hang in there no matter what, to make a commitment which will require all that we are and have.
This kind of love is a love of the will as well as a love of the heart. That is why the answer to the minister's questions in the marriage ceremony is "I Will" and not "I do." It means, "It is an act of my will to make this commitment."
Of course, passions cannot be commanded, but the will can. And that is why we are commanded to love, because Jesus knows that the will must be controlled, taken charge of, and made love to, not to fall or to be in love.
OUTLINE I
The sign of promise
Exodus 12:1-14a
Introduction: Back up and give a resume of the story of bondage and the cry of the people. Tell again of the calling of Moses and of his wrestlings and wranglings with Pharaoh. It is clear that the writer is driving us to a climax in which it will be abundantly obvious to all that no one else other than God could have pulled this marvelous thing off. When you are listening to the stories of the Old Testament and admiring all the characters there, be sure not to miss the central character, the one who is doing it all, the only one who could possibly do what is done. The writers mean to make sure that you know that it is God who brings about this escape from bondage.
A. Get ready. Meticulous and detailed instructions are to be given. Of course God is going to do this great thing. But that does not for a moment mean that he works alone. The people are meant to share in this moment and to be ready. Take a lamb. Slaughter the lamb. Eat the lamb. Paint the lintel over the door. If you believe that God is going to do something show that you believe.
B. A sign. You can bet on it. When God makes a promise it is kept. For these people the blood contained the life. Here is the promise of life given so that they might have new life.
Conclusion: Remember what Jesus said: "I am come that you might have life and that you might have it abundantly." Now you do not need to get all involved in gory scenes which are supposed to convince us all of how much Jesus suffered because of our sins. What we need to do is to understand that here is a sign of a promise, and that promise is made by God, and kept by God. Remember Jesus' words: "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me."
OUTLINE II
On the night when he was betrayed
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Introduction: There is little doubt that in today's lesson we have the earliest record of the Lord's Supper. Paul's letter to Corinth preceded the gospels by quite some time. Here we have the earliest reference to what happened on that evening. The gospels may give us more detail but they do not give us more meaning.
A. On the night when he was betrayed. Here is the very heart of the meaning of the sacrament. Sometimes one hears that those who come to the Lord's Supper must be worthy. Well, Paul says otherwise. Just think of it. There they were, hanging back, scared, on the brink of running, one of them with a plan to force his hand, and yet ... and yet, it was to such as these that he offered the cup and the bread.
B. They would remember. They must have cried when they remembered. How could they have been so dense? How could they have been so wishy-washy? How could they have been so threatened? And yet they were. And still he gave them the cup and the bread.
Conclusion: When we have the opportunity of sharing this bread and this cup we must never forget that it is Jesus who offers this cup and not us. We must never forget that it is not our right to set up rules and fences for people to jump in order to come to his table. Okay, maybe there are those out there who have betrayed and are not worthy. If so, they are just the people the church ought to be looking for. Open the table to all. And remember, the ministers do not take the bread and cup first because they are the best people present. They take it first to make it clear to all who come to the table that those who administer the sacraments need it most of all.
OUTLINE III
The servant's example
John 13:1-15
Introduction: In case your hearers raise the question as to why none of the other gospels tells today's story you can provide them with at least two answers. First, it is now the beginning of the second century and more information about the past is on hand, more time is afforded for developing new traditions. Second, this form of displaying servanthood would make more sense to John's readers. After all they knew little about the Passover and had no real foundation for understanding the meaning of the Lord's Supper.
I grew up in a church which practiced foot-washing and never did offer the Lord's Supper and I remember that it was a very serious occasion. They always invited us kids outside to play so we would not laugh at them but I think it would have been better if they had let us stay and taught us the lessons that are here.
A. A challenge. After all, one must understand that these disciples are quite concerned about position and power. They have argued over who is to be the greatest. Peter speaks for all of them when he wonders what they are to get out of all this tough discipleship. You know that Peter has never made the connection when he refused to have his feet washed. He thinks in terms of hierarchies.
B. A model. Jesus, however, thinks in other ways. Here he is, the Lord of the church, Messiah, Christ, washing people's feet. That was a heavy message for John's church. It is always my contention that peopie don't write just to be writing. This event must have had some relevance to John's people. Does that mean that the people he addresses are in some kind of power struggle? Does it mean that they are as concerned as were the disciples for place and position?
Conclusion: We are forever trying to exalt Jesus and push him away from us. He is forever taking up the basin and towel and reminding us that he is in our midst. When the early church had succeeded in glorifying Jesus out of this world it turned to Mariolatry in order to have contact with someone. We need no Mary; we have Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. See Matthew 1.
Well, that depends on what you are talking about when you use the word love.
Couples who come to my office to prepare for a wedding tell me that they are in love, that they love each other enough to make eternal covenant with one another. When I ask them to tell me about love they are tongue tied and tell me that it is just love, that's all.
I know what they do not know. I know that for this moment in their lives they are probably all caught up in romance, erotic love, love with a passion that they think will never die.
It is my task to speak to them of a different kind of love and to remind them that if they do not have this other love their marriage does not have a chance. That love is what we Christians call "agape" love. This is love centered in the well being of another person. This is love that stands ready to make sacrifice, to give all, to hang in there no matter what, to make a commitment which will require all that we are and have.
This kind of love is a love of the will as well as a love of the heart. That is why the answer to the minister's questions in the marriage ceremony is "I Will" and not "I do." It means, "It is an act of my will to make this commitment."
Of course, passions cannot be commanded, but the will can. And that is why we are commanded to love, because Jesus knows that the will must be controlled, taken charge of, and made love to, not to fall or to be in love.
OUTLINE I
The sign of promise
Exodus 12:1-14a
Introduction: Back up and give a resume of the story of bondage and the cry of the people. Tell again of the calling of Moses and of his wrestlings and wranglings with Pharaoh. It is clear that the writer is driving us to a climax in which it will be abundantly obvious to all that no one else other than God could have pulled this marvelous thing off. When you are listening to the stories of the Old Testament and admiring all the characters there, be sure not to miss the central character, the one who is doing it all, the only one who could possibly do what is done. The writers mean to make sure that you know that it is God who brings about this escape from bondage.
A. Get ready. Meticulous and detailed instructions are to be given. Of course God is going to do this great thing. But that does not for a moment mean that he works alone. The people are meant to share in this moment and to be ready. Take a lamb. Slaughter the lamb. Eat the lamb. Paint the lintel over the door. If you believe that God is going to do something show that you believe.
B. A sign. You can bet on it. When God makes a promise it is kept. For these people the blood contained the life. Here is the promise of life given so that they might have new life.
Conclusion: Remember what Jesus said: "I am come that you might have life and that you might have it abundantly." Now you do not need to get all involved in gory scenes which are supposed to convince us all of how much Jesus suffered because of our sins. What we need to do is to understand that here is a sign of a promise, and that promise is made by God, and kept by God. Remember Jesus' words: "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me."
OUTLINE II
On the night when he was betrayed
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Introduction: There is little doubt that in today's lesson we have the earliest record of the Lord's Supper. Paul's letter to Corinth preceded the gospels by quite some time. Here we have the earliest reference to what happened on that evening. The gospels may give us more detail but they do not give us more meaning.
A. On the night when he was betrayed. Here is the very heart of the meaning of the sacrament. Sometimes one hears that those who come to the Lord's Supper must be worthy. Well, Paul says otherwise. Just think of it. There they were, hanging back, scared, on the brink of running, one of them with a plan to force his hand, and yet ... and yet, it was to such as these that he offered the cup and the bread.
B. They would remember. They must have cried when they remembered. How could they have been so dense? How could they have been so wishy-washy? How could they have been so threatened? And yet they were. And still he gave them the cup and the bread.
Conclusion: When we have the opportunity of sharing this bread and this cup we must never forget that it is Jesus who offers this cup and not us. We must never forget that it is not our right to set up rules and fences for people to jump in order to come to his table. Okay, maybe there are those out there who have betrayed and are not worthy. If so, they are just the people the church ought to be looking for. Open the table to all. And remember, the ministers do not take the bread and cup first because they are the best people present. They take it first to make it clear to all who come to the table that those who administer the sacraments need it most of all.
OUTLINE III
The servant's example
John 13:1-15
Introduction: In case your hearers raise the question as to why none of the other gospels tells today's story you can provide them with at least two answers. First, it is now the beginning of the second century and more information about the past is on hand, more time is afforded for developing new traditions. Second, this form of displaying servanthood would make more sense to John's readers. After all they knew little about the Passover and had no real foundation for understanding the meaning of the Lord's Supper.
I grew up in a church which practiced foot-washing and never did offer the Lord's Supper and I remember that it was a very serious occasion. They always invited us kids outside to play so we would not laugh at them but I think it would have been better if they had let us stay and taught us the lessons that are here.
A. A challenge. After all, one must understand that these disciples are quite concerned about position and power. They have argued over who is to be the greatest. Peter speaks for all of them when he wonders what they are to get out of all this tough discipleship. You know that Peter has never made the connection when he refused to have his feet washed. He thinks in terms of hierarchies.
B. A model. Jesus, however, thinks in other ways. Here he is, the Lord of the church, Messiah, Christ, washing people's feet. That was a heavy message for John's church. It is always my contention that peopie don't write just to be writing. This event must have had some relevance to John's people. Does that mean that the people he addresses are in some kind of power struggle? Does it mean that they are as concerned as were the disciples for place and position?
Conclusion: We are forever trying to exalt Jesus and push him away from us. He is forever taking up the basin and towel and reminding us that he is in our midst. When the early church had succeeded in glorifying Jesus out of this world it turned to Mariolatry in order to have contact with someone. We need no Mary; we have Jesus, Immanuel, God with us. See Matthew 1.
