Sermon Tone Analysis

! Introduction:

In 2011, esteemed actor Robert Downey, Jr. was given the American Cinemathetic Award.

Though most recently known for his roles in the Iron Man and Avengers movies, Downey received a bad reputation during the 1990s because of his consistent problems with drug and alcohol addiction.

As a precursor to this award, Downey was asked whom he would like to have present the award to him.

He asked for Mel Gibson.

Gibson has had a long and illustrious career, but of late, his off-the-screen antics have left him on Hollywood’s blacklist.

So for many in the industry, to have Gibson present this award was a rather risky professional move.

In his acceptance speech, Downey said:

“Actually, I asked Mel to present this award to me for a reason, because when I couldn’t get sober, he told me not to give up hope, and he urged me to find my faith.

It didn’t have to be his or anyone else’s as long as it was rooted in forgiveness.

And I couldn’t get hired, so he cast me in the lead of the movie that was actually developed for him.

And he kept a roof over my head, and he kept food on the table.

And most importantly, he said that if I accepted responsibility for my wrongdoings, if I embraced that part of my soul that was ugly - ”Hugging the cactus” as he calls it.

He said if I have “hugged the cactus” long enough, I become a man of some humility that my life would take on new meaning.

And I did, and it worked.

All he asked in return was that someday I would help the next guy in some small way.

It’s reasonable to assume that at that time he didn’t imagine the next guy would be him or that someday was tonight.

So anyway, on this special occasion I humbly ask that you join me, unless your completely without sin (In which case to pick the wrong… industry), in forgiving my friend his trespasses, offering him the same clean slate you offered me, and allowing him to continue his great and ongoing contribution to our collective art without shame.

He’s hugged the cactus long enough.”

It’s amazing to me to think that a place as sinful as Hollywood, would have the wherewithal to demonstrate this kind of unconditional love and forgiveness.

I still vividly remember how my emotions began to well up within me when I first read this quote in the book One Way Love by Tullian Tchividjian, who is the pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian church.

To think that even in Hollywood God’s unconditional love and forgiveness could be demonstrated.

And to think that his love in the same way was poured out for you and me through the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the cross.

In fact, on the night before Jesus was crucified he made the first of what has become many ”One another” statements or commands that we find in the New Testament.

As you read through the New Testament, you’ll find a variety of instances where there is some command followed by “one another.”

Beginning in the Gospel of John to the book of Revelation, you’ll find some 59 “one another” statements.

These statements span some 23 categories, including:

• Welcome one another (Rom.

15:7)

• Greet one another (Rom.

16:16; 1 Cor.

16:20; 2 Cor.

13:12; 1 Pt.

5:14)

• Bear with one another (Gal.

6:2; Eph.

4:2, Col. 3:13)

• Outdo one another in showing honor (Rom.

12:10; cf Phil.

2:3; 1 Pt.

2:17)

• Comfort one another (2 Cor.

13:11)

• Instruct one another (Rom.

15:14; Col. 3:16; Heb.

3:13 (exhort))

• Wait for one another (1 Cor.

11:33)

• Care for one another (1 Cor.

12:25)

• Serve one another (Gal.

5:13; 1 Pt.

4:10)…

Just to name a few.

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to take some time to look at some of these “one another” statements.

We won’t hit all of them, but we will look at several.

As we begin this series, we’re going to start by looking at the most popular of the “one another” statements – “love one another.”

It shows up some 17 times.

Not only is this the most frequent of the “one another” commands, but it’s the first.

If you have your Bibles, let’s begin by reading John 15:9-17 (this includes what was read earlier).

As you read, take your pencil or pen and circle “love” or “have loved” and underline the word “command” or “commandment.”

If you use a digital Bible you can probably use some of the highlighting features to delineate these differences.

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.

Abide in my love.

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.

15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another."

(John 15:9-17 ESV)

!

The Context

Before we dive into the bulk of what I want to talk about, let’s look briefly at a little bit of the context that we find this passage in.

This passage is part of a larger section of the book of John that some people refer to as the “Farewell Discourse.”

Much of chapters 13-16 happened the night before Jesus was crucified.

In fact in chapter 13, John gives us insight, stating that “when Jesus knew that his hour had come” (John 13:1 ESV).

Jesus knew that this was virtually the end of His earthly ministry with the disciples.

As you read through the chapters, you’ll notice that most of it seems to take place around the table of the last supper.

So consider this with me.

Jesus and his disciples are at the table getting ready to have what we now call ”the last supper.”

In a moment when he realized that he needed to give the disciples an object lesson, Jesus steps back from the table takes off his outer garment wraps a towel around his waist and begins washing the disciples feet.

And then, after some conversation with Peter about taking a bath, and Judas about his betrayal, Jesus makes his first statement about this new command in John 13:34-35 when he says…

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

They continue their conversation.

Jesus talks about where he is going and about the fact that he is “the way, the truth, and the life.”

(John 13:34-25)

Then in verse John 14:31, he says, “Rise, let us go from here” indicating that they got up from the table and began to walk toward the Mount of Olives.

This may be a reason why He began using the “vine” imagery in chapter 15, because they were walking past a vineyard.

I wanted us to look a little bit at the context of this passage because it is important to see that this statement doesn’t standalone.

As we saw, Jesus demonstrated what he was about to tell the disciples by washing the their feet.

Then he gives them the command in chapter 13:34-35 to love one another.

Then as they continue their conversation he comes back to that command because he wants them to remember that this is an ultimately important command.

So with the context in mind, let’s look at some things that we can pull out from this command.

First of all…

!

Agape love is loving as Jesus Loves

As you may know, in the New Testament there are three different Greek words that are translated into our English word love.

There is one, eros, which refers to a romantic love.

There is another, phileo, which refers to brotherly or friendship love.

Then finally, there is agape, which is unconditional love.

This is the love that we see from God.

This love is a sacrificial love.

Jesus is not asking us to do anything that He had not done.

He gave the disciples a demonstration of that by washing their feet.

So what exactly did Jesus do?