The World Will Know Us For Our Love For One Another

Speaker: Archbishop Loren Thomas Hines

May 26, 2022

in Spritual Growth

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May 15, 2022
5th Sunday in Easter
Readings: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
Acts 13: 44-52
John 13:31-35

For some people, Easter is a time of Easter eggs and bunnies and has no other significance other than that. Yet we know that Easter is a time of hope and new life for all mankind. Unfortunately up to this day, man still chooses death instead of life. Our lives should be filled with joy and victory.

In our gospel today, Jesus tells His disciples that there will be that time when one of them will betray Him. John 13:27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” This was referring to Judas. In our own lives, do we really understand the significance of communion? When we receive communion, we should know its full meaning and purpose. Jesus said to Judas, “what you are about to do, do it quickly.” How many times has God done things for us openly and yet we miss His message? When Judas left, it became night time. Darkness set in. Jesus then talks to the other disciples. Scriptures tell us there will be the separation of the sheep from the wolves. “Now is the Son of man glorified,” He continues. Christ came into the world as flesh. In going through what He went through, it brought Him glory. He was paying the price of being abused, persecuted, humiliated, beaten in the flesh for us.

We have allowed the system of the world to steal the truth of God’s word from us, not really understanding the power and authority that had been given to us. When we walk with Christ, we bring glory to Him. It is in overcoming that we are glorified. This is a manifestation of His love for us because He was doing all this in the flesh. Dying in our place and giving us new life. “By this, men may know that you are mine by your love for each other.” Psalm 8:3-6 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

The fullness of God’s life is in our lives. We’ve got to renew our minds and prove the will of God. His redemptive love for us is awesome. 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

On the cross, His flesh felt all the burden and weight of sin and yet He did not give up. He remained steadfast even if all turned against Him. We have a responsibility to live out the life He gave us. “Little children, where I am going, you cannot come.”

Today, who are His disciples? When we see churches and religions at odds with each other due to differences in beliefs? We should be walking together in unity. “By this the world will know we are His disciples. Luke 6:27-36 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Romans 12:20 On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Matthew 12:26
If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?

Easter is being able to live together in harmony. We may not agree on everything but we need not put each other down. What matters most is Christ is in our lives.