Monday after Judica (Passion Sunday)
Posted on March 22, 2021 by under
Scripture: St. John 13:31-35 (NKJV)
13:31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. 33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Devotion
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Popular culture, the world, and the devil say love equals toleration. But God’s love is not toleration. God does not tolerate sin or the sinner. Neither will He leave the sinner alone. He calls the sinner to repentance and faith. He does this through His performative Word and the Sacraments.
Sometimes God sends a Christian who loves you like Jesus does to call you to repentance. Has there ever been a person who said something like, “I am going to say this to you because I love you…,” and then that person proceeded to tell you of a sin for which you need to repent? Have you ever had a friend who was a good enough friend to do that for you? If you have a friend like that—who loves you like Jesus loves you—you are blessed.
Jesus loved even Pharisees like His adversary Paul. Jesus pointed out Paul’s sin and called Paul the sinner to repentance. God’s undeserved pardon and grace brought salvation to Paul and everyone else who has been moved to faith by God’s work through His Word, Spirit, and faithful disciples. That is the way with God’s love. God won’t leave sinners alone. And that is the way with His Son, Jesus. He calls sinners to repentance, and then forgives us.
Prayer: We beseech Thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon Thy people, that by Thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
