Sunday 18th May 2025 Easter 5

“A new command I give you: Love one another.” Aw, well that’s nice isn’t it!
“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” To love like Jesus loves us.
“Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Hold you hard!

Saying ‘Love one another’, well that’s okay; to say we must love like Jesus loves us, yeah, well that gives us a yard stick, a standard; but ‘that he lay down his life’ that’s a bit too far! Jesus is talking to His disciples, this rag-tag bunch of humanity; the ever impetuous Peter; James and John the sons of thunder; the slightly other-worldly John; Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus had driven out the evil spirits. And He looks round this motley collection of people and says, ‘Love one another’. ‘Surely He can’t mean Peter – he’s such a blockhead at times, always acting or speaking before thinking’ Love one another. ‘What, love James and John – but they’re always arguing, the slightest thing and they’re off on one.’ Love one another. Jesus knew the foibles, the peculiarities, the oddities about each of His disciples. He knew that where two or three are gathered there’s bound to be a difference of opinion. ‘Love one another.’
‘As I have loved you, so you must love one another.’ Jesus loved His disciples unconditionally. His command to them was to love one another unconditionally.

And it is His command to us, ‘Love one another.’ Unconditionally.

Rev Phil