Love Isn't Easy

Me

Real authentic love is hard.

Because it requires us to give so much of ourselves. It requires risk, there is no guarantee that we will be loved back.

It was the late 1560s and Dirk was being led to the one place he had always wanted to be growing up. The palace. The only thing is that this once sought after and beautiful place was no longer a palace but a prison. Dirk was brought here not because he was a menace to society but because an Anabaptist protestant. He would not renounce his faith, and because of that, the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands through Dirk into this prison.

There was little hope for escape. The former palace turned prison was surrounded by a moat and guards surrounding the perimeter of the prison. Not only that but Dirk’s prison cell was too high up and the moat was frozen over.

But Dirk did try his best to escape. He made a rope by tying a bunch of rags together, and climbed down till he was just outside the palace walls. He was slowly making his way across the thin ice of the moat when one of the guards caught a glimpse of Dirk.

The guard came running after Dirk, but fell in the thin ice. The guard, not wanting to die an icy death, called out for help. But the only one who could hear him was Dirk.

What would Dirk do? Would he run away to freedom? Where he could be used by God to spread the gospel? Or would he help this guard who could put him back in captivity?

Would Dirk show love to his enemy or selfishness by preserving his own life?

Prayer

God

The 1st Communion is such an interesting event.

Jesus’ disciples are arguing who is going to be the greatest in Jesus’ new kingdom.

Yet at the same time there is a plot a foot which seeks to take down Jesus and all of his influence. Jesus wouldn’t be taken down by outside predators but by one of his own disciples. Jesus knows this and in the middle of their meal, Jesus makes an announcement: One of you will betray me.

As the disciples are wondering who this person might be, Jesus gives them a new commandment.

John 13:34–35 ESV

34 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. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:34

Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another just as He loved them.

Then Jesus tells his disciples:

This bread is my body that is broken for you.

This juice is my blood poured out for you.

How did Jesus love them?

By giving his life for them. For me. For you.

Wait are you suggesting that Jesus has commanded all believers to give their life for others?

This is the way in which Jesus has loved us. This is how far Jesus is willing to love you. Because He has loved you and I this much, He wants us to love others in the same way.

Did the followers of Jesus ever fulfill Jesus’ command?

In the book of Acts, the followers of Jesus are excited to be persecuted. They are honored to be shamed for Christ’s sake. Why?

After they have experienced Jesus and His love.

How He would rather love those who hate him then retaliate back. We see the disciples and other believers doing the same thing.

I believe the reason Paul and others counted it all joy to be persecuted for Christ’s sake was because now they had the opportunity to be Christ to someone else.

The martyrs stood by their faith and even made their death a testimony to the love of Jesus.

By choosing to die rather than fight back, they were making a statement.

Jesus gave me a command to love you. Yes, even you who hate me and want to take my life. I know this because my own actions at one point screamed hate towards Jesus, but instead of hating me, Jesus died for me, because He loves me to the point of death.

Those believers would rather die than sin against God. Because they didn’t belong to themselves, they belonged to Jesus.

But you know what I don’t want to do that.

Because that kind of love makes me uncomfortable. I am not comfortable loving others in that way. To love someone and be willing to die for them. Be willing to give my life for another person. There is only one person I would be willing to do that for. That’s my wife. It would take a lot for me to love someone else that much.

But that is exactly the point.

Jesus has loved us to the point of death, because you and I were of more value than His life. That’s called being selfless. Sinless.

Jesus has called the same thing from each one of us.

They will know you are one of His disciples because you had the same love as Him.

Acts 7:54–60 ESV

54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 7:54-

Just before Stephen dies he says something very similar to what Jesus said on the cross. He isn’t simply quoting Jesus. But this statement does come from the same place as Jesus: love.

Jesus loved the Pharisees enough to die for them.

Stephen loved the Pharisees enough to die for them.

Jesus loved Judas.

Stephen loved Saul.

Because of their love for their killers, they ask God to not hold this sin against them. In essence, both Jesus and Stephen ask God the Father to forgive their killers.

Foot Washing

Dirk was standing on the ice. On one side was freedom and on the other side captivity.

Dirk could not let this guard die. Jesus told Dirk. He told Peter, and He has told us. They will know that you belong to me because of your love for one another. We have been tasked with loving others to the point of death.

Dirk loved his life. But he loved his Jesus more. So Dirk helped the guard out of the ice. Unfortunately the guard did not reciprocate Dirk’s kindness. Dirk was recaptured and eventually burned at the stake for his faith.

But he was able to do one thing that was worth it all. Dirk was able to obey Jesus’ command.

John 15:13 ESV

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

We

Down stairs we have rooms prepared for the footwashing service. As we wash each other’s feet let’s remember that Jesus loved your partner enough to give all of himself. That is how much Jesus has loved you.

Jesus wants you to love that person in the same way. I know you are not there yet. I am not there yet. But I want to be. Because I love Jesus.

As we wash each other’s feet and pray over one another. Jesus loved you till Death and I want to too.

(Pray for the Foot washing service)