Extraordinary Love For People

Intro:

Last week we discussed being passionately committed to Jesus. We are continuing our series Disciple: Being and Making Followers of Jesus. This morning we are going to explore another core quality of a Disciple. Extraordinary Love for People.

Our series is birthed out of Matthew 28:16-20.

Matthew 28:16–20 NIV

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We’re are talking about core qualities of a disciple of Jesus. That was the commission then and it’s still the same great commission for us today, it hasn’t changed. That’s the mission and vision of Parkside, it’s to cultivate disciples. Last week we talked about being passionately commited and we will build off of that foundation this morning. Turn in your Bibles to Luke 5:17-26.

The Need

We have all probably seen some version of love.

A. Helping someone with financial issues.

B. Loving the kid next door living in a bad situation.

C. Being a listening ear for someone.

D. A couple in love.

While those are examples of love, this morning I want to explore extraordinary love. I think we can all agree we have seen some version of love. I believe we have all seen extraordinary love at some point in our lives. The question each of us must ask ourselves is extraordinary love for others a core value in our lives. I’m talking about having extraordinary love for people outside of our close inner circles. I’m talking about having extraordinary love for strangers, for people that God created that are lost.

Today we live in a world where extraordinary love is desperately needed. The problem, just watch a few minutes of any news channel, is extraordinary love is frequently absent. I’m reminded of a story of a young man on the beach of the ocean. It was just after lowtide and a man seen the young man throwing starfish back into the ocean. The man asked what are you doing. The young man said I’m trying to save these starfish. The man said there are hundreds if not thousands of starfish on the beach, you wont be able to save all of them, you’re not going to make much of difference. The young man picked another one up and tossed it back into the ocean and said “You maybe right, I might not be able to save them all but I just made a difference in that ones life.”

I believe there are some of us here today that we somehow because of some circumstance have gotten tripped up believing maybe we can’t make a difference. I’ve been there, the good news is we can make a difference. With God we can. With God we can love people with extraordinary love.

Snapshots

I believe life is full of snapshots. When we recall to memory an event in our lives, we get a snapshot. We don’t get the full experience all over again, just a snapshot. This morning I want to look at some biblical snapshots of extraordinary love. If you’re there lets take a look at Luke 5:17-26.

Luke 5:17–26 NIV

One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Extraordinary Love

The friends doing what it takes for their friend. They didn’t just sympathize with there friend, they took their friend to Jesus, who he needed.

Look at what Jesus does. He doesn’t do what the paralized man wants he does what the man needs, Jesus forgives.

Skip ahead with me to Luke 10: 25-37. Lets look at another snapshot of extraordinary love. Lets chat for a moment about what has just happened before the good Samaritan. Jesus had sent out the seventy two. They returned rejoicing telling Jesus that demons are subject to the name of Jesus. Jesus responds telling them he has given them authority but not to rejoice in the fact that spirits are subject to them. He says in verse 20 of Luke 10 to rejoice that their names are written in Heaven. Jesus reiterates to the seventy two that being his disciples is about people not just doing amazing things and now Jesus illustrates it perfectly.

Luke 10:25–37 NIV

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Sometimes there is a temptation to miss opportunities to show extraordinary love. We see this with the priest and the Levite. But the Samaritan doesn’t just show ordinary love, he goes above and beyond and shows extraordinary love. Being a disciple of Jesus should put a burden on us to stop and not miss the opportunity for God to show extraordinary love to someone through us.

Again we see extraordinary love in Acts 3:1-10.

Acts 3:1–10 NIV

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter and John don’t give the man what he wants they give him what he needs. That’s extraordinary love to give someone what they need not just what they desire. Sometimes we get to do both, the desire and the need match. Again to have extraordinary love at the core of your being hinges on your relationship with Jesus.

One more snapshot. Jesus dying on the cross. Jesus was beaten, he was spit on, his clothes were gambled over, ultimately he died for our sins so that we could have relationship with God through Him. That’s extraordinary love.

Everything Has A Price

Today you and I are faced with cost. Everything has a price. Last week I discussed the cost of being a disciple of Jesus. To be a disciple of Christ it will cost us everything. The question you and I have to answer are we sold out disciples of Christ. Think about it for a moment. Some folks are only will to pay a price for a cup of coffee or a lunch and call it good that they showed love. To be honest many believers only sacrifice a few hours 2 days a week because that is all they are willing to pay. I’m not trying to guilt trip anyone, I am only pointing out the truth of what we are all called to. The Great Commission called everyone to preach the Gospel and make disciples. The only way we can make a disciple is to be one. We can’t make a monkey, because we are not monkeys. We can make babies, humans, why, because we are humans. So if we want to make disciples we have to be one. That requires being sold out to follow the example of Christ and willing to pay whatever the cost to show extraordinary love to others.