1 John 3:16-24
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
This morning’s reading reminds me of the one about a young boy who kept acting up at school.
One day, the school called his father and said, “Your son keeps acting up in class, and his behavior is unacceptable. We’d recommend placement in another school. So the father talked to his son and decided he’d send him to a private school. A week later, the private school called the boy’s father saying, “Your son keeps acting up in class, and his behavior is unacceptable. We’d recommend placement in another school.” Yet again, the father talked to his son and decided to send him to a boarding school. Another week passed, and the father got yet another call; the same as the others. “Your son keeps acting up in class, and his behavior is unacceptable. We’d recommend placement in another school.” At this point, the father didn’t care anymore and decided to send his son to a Lutheran school. A few months passed and the father hadn’t received a single call about his son’s behavior. Curious as to what had changed, the father asked, “Hey son, what changed? Why did you all of a sudden stop acting up?” The son looked up from his dinner and responded, “Well, dad, when I walked in there and saw a man nailed to a cross, I knew they meant business.”
I suppose to an unaware kid who doesn’t understand that it’s Jesus hanging on the cross the crucifix can be a pretty frightening sight to behold. Especially if that kid is a troublesome kid known his schoolroom antics! Yikes! I’d be terrified having a crucified man looming over me day after day too! Of course, most of the world knows that a crucifix is a reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus made to save the people of the world. Did Jesus deserve to die so painfully and unjustly? Probably not. Did Jesus have to die so painfully and justly? Well, his painful, unjust death has certainly captivated the world for the last 2,000 years. The sins of the world are overwhelming and if we have any hope of being in right relationship with our God then I suppose such an extreme sacrifice is necessary. Not to mention the fact that Jesus had to conquer our great enemy, death itself. Jesus had to die in order to defeat death and show us there is life after death. To have him die on a cross added powerful effect to his death. I mean, who would want to hang up there slowly suffocating, hour after hour, totally exposed to the world and the jeers of people?! What a terrible way to leave this world!
But the crucifix serves as both a reminder and a proclamation to the world. We see people wearing crucifixes or crucifixes hanging on walls and we know the person defines themselves as Christians. The crucifix not only reminds people of Jesus’ sacrifice, but it also tells others of a person’s allegiance to Christ and Christian values. When we see a person wearing or carrying a cross, we often think that person is living a life of discipline, kindness, generosity, and sacrifice. We assume their lives are reflective of Christ’s life, that they are effectively disciples of Christ. Unfortunately, we have to be careful when we make some an assumption. Wearing or carrying or displaying a crucifix doesn’t always necessarily mean a person has chosen to adhere to Christian values. Sometimes I wonder if that person is simply encouraging others to adhere to Christian values with that crucifix while they themselves fail to live according to Christian values. We have to be careful not to assume that person is a faithful disciple of Christ. Regardless, a crucifix can be both a reminder and proclamation.
Now then, what does this all have to do with our reading for today? In his letter, John makes a couple key statements about what it means to be a faithful Christian. Faithful Christians believe in a loving God and that Jesus is the embodiment of God’s love. Everything Jesus said and did and continues to do comes from a place of love. Jesus is solely motivated by love. Now then, Jesus rarely told people he loved them. He showed them his love for them. He healed them, taught them, enlightened them. Jesus put his love into action. It’s one thing to tell a person you love them, it’s another thing to actually show them you love them. Show them kindness…show them gratitude…show them sacrifice! Don’t just tell them you love them…help them, encourage them, support them with your love! For Jesus, love is an active verb. It is not simply love; it is loving. Our reading began, “we know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.” Love isn’t simply a proclamation, it’s an action. To actively lay down one’s life for another person reveals their love for them. Love is a verb, not a noun.
All too often people believe the crucifix is simply a noun, a statement. Jesus died on the cross for our behalf, remember it. However, the crucifix should be considered a call to action. Jesus died on the cross for our behalf, now how are you going to show such sacrificial love to others? Jesus died on the cross for MY behalf, how am I going to love others? Jesus didn’t die for us simply to earn our love and adoration. No, he did it to show us how we are to love each other: generously and sacrificially. Sure, a crucifix can tell others of our allegiance to Christ and Christian values but it’s really by our actions of love and sacrifice that we are defined as Christians. As we heard in John’s gospel, “by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Wearing or carrying or displaying a crucifix is one thing, actually loving others in deeds of kindness and sacrifice is another.
Being a Christian is more than simply giving a proclamation. It’s a way of living and sharing God’s love with the world. Jesus told his disciples, “Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.” (Matt. 10:8) We are called to actively share God’s love, not just dwell in and celebrate God’s love. We are called to leave this place and actually share God’s love with the world. God’s love is meant to be shared, not hoarded. We are called to love, not simply to be loved. And of course, always heed Paul’s wisdom to the Colossians: “And whatever you do, in word and deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (3:17) In and through Christ, we give thanks…thanks be to God!
