Home is Where You’re Loved
Notes
Transcript
Have you ever noticed that a house doesn’t always feel like a home? You can walk into a place that’s perfectly decorated, with all the right furniture and all the right colors—and yet, something’s missing. But then there are those places you walk into, maybe even a little messy, maybe nothing fancy at all—but the moment you step inside, you feel it. You feel accepted. You feel like you belong. You feel loved. That’s what makes it home.
And I believe that’s exactly what Jesus had in mind when He designed His Church. Not just a building with walls and chairs, not just a place where people gather once a week—but a home. A place where anyone who walks through the doors can sense something real. A love that’s deeper than polite smiles and handshakes. A love that says, “You belong here.” A love that points people straight to Him.
We have all read the story of Jesus and His disciples at the Last Supper. It is just hours before His arrest and crucifixion. Jesus knows that His time on earth is short, and He is preparing His followers for life without His physical presence.
Our text today is from the words of Jesus. It is in between two moments that would take place and be remembered for centuries. Our text is found in John 13. Jesus says these words after Judas leaves to go and betray Jesus and before Jesus tells Peter that he would disown Him three times. Look at what Jesus says.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Why does Jesus call this a new command? The Old Testament commanded love.
18 “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Jesus now redefines it. He is telling us to love as He has loved us. Jesus loved us sacrificially, humbly, and unconditionally.
This new love is not just about feelings, but it is about action. Loving like Jesus means serving, forgiving, and even laying down our lives if necessary.
Jesus gives this command so that the world can identify His disciples by love, not by their social status, or wealth, power, or even knowledge of Scripture. Love becomes the defining mark of the church.
This passage occurs after Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. Foot washing was a task for servants, yet Jesus humbly served His disciples. The act models exactly what He means by loving one another through the mess. Jesus is showing them love through service and humility. Then immediately following these verses, Jesus predicts Peter’s denial. Jesus is showing that love persists even in human weakness and failure.
Love is active, not just sentimental. Jesus models this through His service. Love is distinctive. It is how the world recognizes true followers of Christ. Love is enduring. Even when people fail, love persists, just as Jesus loved us first. Love creates a home. The Church becomes a family where people are known, valued, and cared for, even through the mess.
This morning I want to give you three important truths concerning love and the church.
Truth #1 - Love is Our Family Language
Truth #1 - Love is Our Family Language
Do any of you have a special language that only your family knows? Like when an event happens or you have a get together, your family does something unique and no one else knows what is going on. You have that special bond or language because you use it in private and then when you are in a crowd and everyone is looking at you strangely.
One thing that should be special about the church is love should be our family language.
When you walk into church, you should feel the love from each other. Remember what Jesus said in our text.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
This means that our love should be so distinct that the world recognizes it immediately. Love is the accent of heaven.
Think about a family reunion for a moment. You walk into the room and instantly notice the similarities—maybe it’s the same eyes, the same smile, the same laugh, or even the same little quirks. You don’t have to ask who belongs to the family—you can see it in their resemblance. The family likeness gives it away.
In the same way, Jesus said that the defining mark of His family isn’t our last name, where we grew up, or even the traditions we keep. He said the evidence that we belong to Him is our love for one another (John 13:35). Love is the “family resemblance” of the children of God.
When people encounter us—at church, at work, in our neighborhoods—they should see something that makes them pause and say, “There’s something different about them. I can tell who they belong to.” And that difference isn’t a physical trait—it’s the love of Christ flowing through us.
Just like at a reunion, the resemblance is undeniable. When we love like Jesus, the world can’t help but recognize: “They must be part of God’s family.”
This truth is important for us to comprehend, but it doesn’t end there.
Truth #2 - Jesus Loved Us First
Truth #2 - Jesus Loved Us First
We don’t start with our own love; we start with His.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Jesus’ love came first. The love that Jesus gave to us was unearned. We did nothing to receive His love. Also, none of us deserved His love. He freely gave it to us. And His love was given to us unconditionally.
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Think about your child for a moment. They come our of the womb very selfish. They don’t give you anything. All they do is take from you. You give them food. You change them. You clean them. You comfort them. It is unconditional love from you to the child. You love that child before the child can even respond.
That’s what God’s love is. God’s love isn’t a reaction, it’s a foundation. God loved you in the beginning. And because God loved you first, we are freed to love without conditions.
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
There is nothing that we can say or do that will remove God’s love from us. Even in our messiness, God still loves us. And it is through the love of God that we should love others through their mess.
Truth #3 - Love Others Through Their Mess
Truth #3 - Love Others Through Their Mess
When you see the events that have happened this past week, I believe all of us would agree that we live in a messy world. People are messy. Families are messy. The world is a messy place. Love is not neat and tidy.
Jesus didn’t love us because we were perfect and had it all together. He loved us despite our sin, our failures, and all the brokenness that happens.
The church should reflect that. We don’t want a showroom for saints. We want a hospital for sinners.
I told you when we began this message that our text came after Judas left to go and betray Jesus. What may not have known was this passage came after Jesus washed the feet of the disciples as well. And guess who was there getting his feet washed with the rest of them? Judas, the man who was about to betray Him.
Jesus showed us how to love people even when it’s inconvenient. Even when it is uncomfortable. And especially when it was undeserved.
We live in a messy world and the only remedy for that mess is love.
We live in a messy world and the only remedy for that mess is love.
People don’t need us to fix them before they feel loved; they need us to love them while God is doing the fixing.
This is the kind of love that God has called us to show. It’s not about waiting until people ‘deserve it’. It’s about loving them in their mess, just like Jesus loved us in ours.
I want to show you a short video that illustrates this perfectly. It’s a reminder that even the smallest act of love can ripple out farther than we can imaging.
Play Video: Pay It Forward - Are You Ready to Do the World a Favour?
This is a very powerful thought. Just one simple act of love can start a chain reaction. That’s exactly what Jesus was talking about in John 13. When we love one another through the mess, through the chaos, through all the layers of filth and junk, it shows the world who we belong to.
Love doesn’t have to be big or dramatic to make a difference. Sometimes it’s a simple word of encouragement. Maybe it’s a helping hand. Or it’s just being there when someone feels alone.
This is what I want you to do this week. I want you to find someone you may not know well. They could be at the church, work or in your neighborhood. I want you to intentionally show them love.
I want you to write them a note of encouragement. Maybe send them a text message. You could take them our for coffee. Or you could just sit and listen to their story.
Love doesn’t always have to be about big gestures. Love does have to be consistent. It is those everyday actions that make people feel seen. We want to make people feel valued and cared for.
When we love people the way God intended us to, the church becomes the most loving place on Earth and people will be drawn to Jesus through it.
If the church isn’t know for love, it doesn’t matter how good our music is, how strong our preaching is, or how nice our building looks. Jesus said love is the mark of His disciples.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Let me close with this story.
There’s a story about a young man who grew up in a broken home. He made a lot of bad choices, burned bridges, and felt like no one wanted him. One day, he wandered into a church. He wasn’t dressed right, he didn’t know how to act right, and he wasn’t even sure why he came.
But instead of side-eyes or whispers, he was greeted with hugs, handshakes, and genuine smiles. People invited him to sit with them. Someone asked his name and remembered it the next week. Another family invited him to lunch.
Later he said, ‘I don’t even remember the sermon that day. I don’t remember the songs. But I remember how I was loved. That’s when I knew I had found a home.’
Friends, that’s exactly what Jesus was talking about in John 13. Love is what tells the world that we belong to Him. Love is what turns a building into a home. And love is what will draw the lost, the hurting, and the broken to Christ.
It is up to us to show the love of Jesus to those that are needing love.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Can we pray?
Lord, make us a church that loves like You. We want to love more deeply. Let our love be unconditionally. And let us love people through the mess. In Jesus name, amen.
