Love One Another

Love One Another

The Bible reading today was 1John 4 and as I was reading the song popped into my head. You know the one – from Sunday school or VBS. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God for God is love. Beloved, let us love one another first John four seven and eight!” The whole chapter is about love. The crux of it is that you can’t be with God if you aren’t loving your “brother.” Two thoughts entered my mind immediately: first, do I love my “brother”?; and, second, who is my “brother?”

Brother – Neighbor

Brother and neighbor aren’t necessarily interchangeable words. But I think the sentiment is. My second thought reminded me of Luke 10: 25-37 when Jesus is teaching.  A teacher of the law asks Him, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus knows the man’s heart and sees that he wants to be justified in caring only for those in his immediate circle. So, Jesus proceeds to tell the parable of the good Samaritan. This response is the most uncomfortable answer as Samaritans were despised by the Jews and yet, this was the example of the type of man Jesus called him to be.

Imagine

Imagine for a moment that you are part of a select community that does not allow outsiders. You find yourself robbed and beaten on the side of the road. The priest of your church sees you and instead of helping, crosses the street to avoid you. So too does a member of your community and fellow parishioner. Then along comes someone who neither you nor your community would ever allow inside your place of worship. This person is a member of a despised group of people that you wouldn’t talk to or entertain. Yet, it is this man who sees you in your time of trouble and comes to your aid. He washes and bandages your wounds; lets you ride on the donkey he was riding while he walks, and then takes you to a place where you will be cared for and covers the bill in full.

Cultural Context

It’s easy to diminish the message here if you don’t know the cultural context. The Samaritan wasn’t just some guy from a different housing development. He was despised. He was like the black teenager who threw herself on top of the neo-nazi marcher to protect him from an angry mob. Or the black musician, Daryl Davis, who convinced hundreds of Klu Klux Klan members to give up their robes through friendship. This is who Jesus tells the teacher of the law to be like. In fact, Jesus demonstrates in the story that the people who were supposed to be on his team, who he would have expected to help the injured man, did not behave like “neighbors” at all. All of the superficial things, where they were from, what they looked like, and their religion meant nothing. It was the man’s heart that reflected Jesus – not his outfit.

The Cost Of Love

Real love doesn’t leave you where you are. The story didn’t end with the Samaritan bandaging the man’s wounds and sending him on his way. He puts the man on his own donkey. He gives up his ride and his comfort to help the injured man. Then he spends his own money to have the innkeeper take care of him. The Samaritan goes further still, he tells the innkeeper that if any additional cost is incurred, he will pay it when her returns. Wow. Jesus explains the cost of love perfectly here. He would sacrifice himself for people who didn’t want him – to make sure they were healed – and pay the final bill. I want to love like Jesus.

They will know we are Christians by our love. 

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