They'll Know We are Christians by Our Love

John 15:9-17

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

If you're old enough, you'll remember the popular song written in 1966:  "They'll know we are Christians by our love."  While it may not be the most profound, theologically deep hymn ever written, it contains much truth:  when we walk together, work together, and 'spread the news that God is in the land,' indeed, the world will know that Jesus is here in human form through his followers, the Christians. And those Christians, my friends, are us!

Picture yourself in the room in John 15.  You are right there, with Jesus,  soaking up his teachings.  You have seen him turn water into wine.  You have seen him heal the blind, the lame, those with evil spirits.  And he has chosen you as one of his followers.  Only you're not a servant - you're his friend.  Yes, his friend.  And he is telling his closest friends that 'whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.  This is my command:  love each other.'  

Fast forward:  the year is 2019.  Jesus died and rose on the 3rd day centuries ago.  And he will come again.  Meanwhile, he has put us here on earth to 'go and bear fruit - fruit that will last.' And he has told us to Love each other.  In this day of sharp divisions in our country, how refreshing would it be if the church truly lived this out?  We can do it - Easter is coming - and we can love each other and share this love with others.

Lord, the season of Lent is time for reflection and meditation as I marvel at what you did for me on the cross.  Help me to love my fellow Christians, and through this act of love, to bear fruit that will last and bring glory to your name.  amen.