Follow Me…Follow Me…

…Love One Another…Love One Another

The words of Jesus as recorded in John’s Gospel, the 13th chapter…

The words of Jesus as recorded in John’s Gospel, the 13th chapter…

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

We missed something last week

We missed something last week

Something was said last week that we did not pay attention toSomething was said last week that we did not pay attention to

In fact, something was said last week that we

completely ignored

In fact, something was said last week that we

completely ignored

Now, I guess our neglect of what was said last week is somewhat

excusable

Now, I guess our neglect of what was said last week is somewhat

excusable

After all, we wanted to focus our attention on the theme of the day:

“Follow Me… Tell Others”

After all, we wanted to focus our attention on the theme of the day:

“Follow Me… Tell Others”

And quite frankly, what was said last week during the worship service did not

pertain to the topic at hand

And quite frankly, what was said last week during the worship service did not

pertain to the topic at hand

So it was ignoredSo it was ignored

But should we have ignored what was said?But should we have ignored what was said?

Should we have simply gone on with the topic at hand as though what was said had not been said?

Should we have simply gone on with the topic at hand as though what was said had not been said?

No, we should not have done that.No, we should not have done that.

Because, you see, what was said was a cry for helpcry for help!

Because, you see, what was said was a cry for helpcry for help!

This is what was said:This is what was said:

“Does not man have hard service on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired man? Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hired man waiting eagerly for his wages, so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me. When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’ The night drags on, and I toss till dawn. My body is clothed with worms and scabs, my skin is broken and festering. My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end without hope. Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.”

“Does not man have hard service on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired man? Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hired man waiting eagerly for his wages, so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me. When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’ The night drags on, and I toss till dawn. My body is clothed with worms and scabs, my skin is broken and festering. My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end without hope. Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.”

(These were the words of Job, chapter 7 - our Old Testament reading for last week)(These were the words of Job, chapter 7 - our Old Testament reading for last week)

The words of Job were a cry for helpThe words of Job

were a cry for help

He was in anguishHe was in anguish

His children were dead

His children were dead

His fortune was lost

His fortune was lost

His health was ruined

His health was ruined

He was lost in sorrow, grief, confusion and

doubt

He was lost in sorrow, grief, confusion and

doubt

And so, in the words of last week’s Old Testament reading, Job cries out

And so, in the words of last week’s Old Testament reading, Job cries out

And he despairs about his hard service, his feelings of futility and hopelessness, his physical pain and suffering, and his sleepless nights of misery.

And he despairs about his hard service, his feelings of futility and hopelessness, his physical pain and suffering, and his sleepless nights of misery.

He is certain that he will never see happiness

again.

He is certain that he will never see happiness

again.

And we ignored himAnd we ignored him

Now I know what you might be thinking…Now I know what you might be thinking…

“Gee, Pastor… give us a break. It’s not like we ignored a REAL person. Job’s one of those ‘Bible People.’ The guy lived thousands of years ago. His problems existed thousands of years ago. There’s nothing we could have done for him.”

“Gee, Pastor… give us a break. It’s not like we ignored a REAL person. Job’s one of those ‘Bible People.’ The guy lived thousands of years ago. His problems existed thousands of years ago. There’s nothing we could have done for him.”

“Plus, we had that sermon series to do, too. You know, the one about following Jesus? And last week we were talking about evangelism and mission work and telling others about Jesus and about being ‘fishers of men’ - the whole nine yards! That was what we had to talk about.”

“Plus, we had that sermon series to do, too. You know, the one about following Jesus? And last week we were talking about evangelism and mission work and telling others about Jesus and about being ‘fishers of men’ - the whole nine yards! That was what we had to talk about.”

Besides, you’re the guy choosing what the sermons are about. So… WE didn’t ignore anyone!”

Besides, you’re the guy choosing what the sermons are about. So… WE didn’t ignore anyone!”

“This one doesn’t count.”“This one doesn’t count.”

Okay, so maybe this one doesn’t actually count. Maybe it IS a stretch to say that we ignored Job last week.

Okay, so maybe this one doesn’t actually count. Maybe it IS a stretch to say that we ignored Job last week.

So, maybe we can say that we’re all excused.So, maybe we can say that we’re all excused.

But what’s our excuse when we DO ignore cries for help?But what’s our excuse when we DO ignore cries for help?

What’s our excuse when we ignore REAL people in need?What’s our excuse when we ignore REAL people in need?

We do live in a world that is filled with need… with cries of anguish and

despair…

We do live in a world that is filled with need… with cries of anguish and

despair…

The are people of all ages who are

sick - some desperately.

The are people of all ages who are

sick - some desperately. There are people

who feel alone.There are people who feel alone.

There are people who

have suffered

terrible loss.

There are people who

have suffered

terrible loss.

We do live in a world that is filled with need… with cries of anguish and

despair…

We do live in a world that is filled with need… with cries of anguish and

despair…

At times their sadness never seems to end

At times their sadness never seems to end

At times they feel isolated from the rest of the world

At times they feel isolated from the rest of the world

We do live in a world that is filled with need… with cries of anguish and

despair…

We do live in a world that is filled with need… with cries of anguish and

despair…

People of all walks of life can go through periods of time when they are lost and confused, feeling helpless and hopeless, overwhelmed and beaten down.

People of all walks of life can go through periods of time when they are lost and confused, feeling helpless and hopeless, overwhelmed and beaten down.

And we need to do something about it!And we need to do something about it!

Remember the words of our text…Remember the words of our text…

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

With these words, Jesus further expands His definition of what it means to be

people who follow Him.

With these words, Jesus further expands His definition of what it means to be

people who follow Him.

Not only do followers of Jesus recognize Him to be in charge…Not only do followers of Jesus recognize Him to be in charge…

Not only do followers of Jesus “abide in His Word…”Not only do followers of Jesus “abide in His Word…”

Not only do followers of Jesus make disciples of all nations…Not only do followers of Jesus make disciples of all nations…

Followers of Jesus love one another.

Followers of Jesus love one another.

We love one another within the Family of God - fellow believers within the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We love one another within the Family of God - fellow believers within the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And we love one another within the Family of Humankind - all those whom

God has created.

And we love one another within the Family of Humankind - all those whom

God has created.

Jesus makes it clear…Jesus makes it clear…

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have if you have love for one anotherlove for one another.”

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have if you have love for one anotherlove for one another.”

Being a follower of Jesus will show itself by the love that we have for

others!

Being a follower of Jesus will show itself by the love that we have for

others!

No love…No love… No disciples!No disciples!

The kind of love that Jesus is talking about is the kind of love that shows itself

in word and deed!

The kind of love that Jesus is talking about is the kind of love that shows itself

in word and deed!

It is coming alongside people in their hour of need

It is coming alongside people in their hour of need

It is giving them your time and attention…

giving them a shoulder to lean on

It is giving them your time and attention…

giving them a shoulder to lean on

It’s getting involved in their lives

It’s getting involved in their lives

The kind of love that Jesus is talking about is the kind of love that shows itself

in word and deed!

The kind of love that Jesus is talking about is the kind of love that shows itself

in word and deed!

Sometimes showing this love takes us to

far away places

Sometimes showing this love takes us to

far away places

Sometimes it takes us outside of our comfort

zones

Sometimes it takes us outside of our comfort

zones

And sometimes it forces us to deal with the issues and crises that

plague our world

And sometimes it forces us to deal with the issues and crises that

plague our world

But always this kind of love that Jesus is talking about shows itself by us getting

involved in the lives of others!

But always this kind of love that Jesus is talking about shows itself by us getting

involved in the lives of others!

It is simply who we are and what we do as followers of

Jesus Christ

It is simply who we are and what we do as followers of

Jesus Christ

Our Gospel reading for today shows us how Jesus did it…Our Gospel reading for today shows us how Jesus did it…

A man who suffered from leprosy came to Jesus and begged Him...

A man who suffered from leprosy came to Jesus and begged Him...

“If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

“If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Our Gospel reading for today shows us how Jesus did it…Our Gospel reading for today shows us how Jesus did it…

Look at what happens next:Look at what happens next:

Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.

Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.

Our Gospel reading for today shows us how Jesus did it…Our Gospel reading for today shows us how Jesus did it…

"I am willing," He said. "Be clean!""I am willing," He said. "Be clean!"

Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

In doing what He did, Jesus did the sort of things that made the people of His day

queasy.

In doing what He did, Jesus did the sort of things that made the people of His day

queasy.

He showed compassion to someone whom most people had identified as an outcast of society

He showed compassion to someone whom most people had identified as an outcast of society

He gave His time and energy to a person that other people would literally run away from

He gave His time and energy to a person that other people would literally run away from

And then He did the unthinkable!And then He did the unthinkable!

He touched him.He touched him.

He touched a leper.He touched a leper.

And in touching the manAnd in touching the man

Jesus showed the depth of His compassion

Jesus showed the depth of His compassion

…He showed the depth of His love.

…He showed the depth of His love.

We are called upon, as followers of Jesus, to show forth the compassion

and love of Jesus to others.

We are called upon, as followers of Jesus, to show forth the compassion

and love of Jesus to others.

And we are to do this as a congregation & school

And we are to do this as a congregation & school

We are the people who have already known and cherished the love and compassion of Jesus in our own lives…

We are the people who have already known and cherished the love and compassion of Jesus in our own lives…

He has died for us!He has died for us!

He has risen from the dead for us!He has risen from the dead for us!

He has granted us our salvation &

eternal life!

He has granted us our salvation &

eternal life!

And what’s more is that He surrounds us with His love and compassion

through each other within this Family of Believers.

And what’s more is that He surrounds us with His love and compassion

through each other within this Family of Believers.

So… the expectations that He has for us should be clear!

So… the expectations that He has for us should be clear!

If we are to be serious about following Him, then we need to be serious about loving one

another within this church & school.

If we are to be serious about following Him, then we need to be serious about loving one

another within this church & school.

It starts here.It starts here.

The love we have for one another here at St. Paul Lutheran Church

and School needs to be the witness we give to the rest of the

world.

The love we have for one another here at St. Paul Lutheran Church

and School needs to be the witness we give to the rest of the

world.

It needs to be the way others recognize us to be Christ’s

disciples.

It needs to be the way others recognize us to be Christ’s

disciples.

And then, as we love one another here in this gathering of believers, we let that same love extend to the

rest of the world.

And then, as we love one another here in this gathering of believers, we let that same love extend to the

rest of the world.

No matter at what stage of life they are at…No matter at what stage of life they are at…

And then, as we love one another here in this gathering of believers, we let that same love extend to the

rest of the world.

And then, as we love one another here in this gathering of believers, we let that same love extend to the

rest of the world.

No matter what their need…No matter what their need…

And then, as we love one another here in this gathering of believers, we let that same love extend to the

rest of the world.

And then, as we love one another here in this gathering of believers, we let that same love extend to the

rest of the world.

No matter where we find them…No matter where we find them…

And then, as we love one another here in this gathering of believers, we let that same love extend to the

rest of the world.

And then, as we love one another here in this gathering of believers, we let that same love extend to the

rest of the world.

No matter the kind of work we have to do…No matter the kind of work we have to do…

And then, as we love one another here in this gathering of believers, we let that same love extend to the

rest of the world.

And then, as we love one another here in this gathering of believers, we let that same love extend to the

rest of the world.

And no matter how hard.And no matter how hard.

We are called upon to be the hands of JesusWe are called upon to be the hands of Jesus

Touching each other and the rest of the worldTouching each other and the rest of the world

With His Love.With His Love.

Because that’s what disciples of Jesus do.Because that’s what disciples of Jesus do.

That’s who disciples of Jesus are.That’s who disciples of Jesus are.

We started things off today acknowledging the fact that we ignored

the cries of anguish that Job gave in last weekend’s Old Testament lesson.

We started things off today acknowledging the fact that we ignored

the cries of anguish that Job gave in last weekend’s Old Testament lesson.

But I guess that was okay, because last week it really didn’t

count.

But I guess that was okay, because last week it really didn’t

count.

May Jesus grant us, His disciples, the ears, eyes and hearts to hear, see and respond when the cries of anguish are

around us…

May Jesus grant us, His disciples, the ears, eyes and hearts to hear, see and respond when the cries of anguish are

around us…

when it does count.

when it does count.

AmenAmen

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:

just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for

one another.”

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:

just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for

one another.”