SCRIPTURE: John 15:12-13
11-1-17
“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:12-13 (NLT)
Although for you it’s probably just history — September 11th, 2001 changed my life. Shortly after the attack on our country, I joined the Army. I went through nearly a year and a half of training where I got in shape, learned how to use multiple weapons, and even jumped out of airplanes.
When I got assigned to my first unit, I found myself in charge of — responsible for — the lives of over thirty soldiers. Most of the guys — we only had guys in our combat unit — but most of the guys were young. I was young — still in my early twenties.
And in early 2003 we got our orders — we were headed to Afghanistan. Now when you’re preparing to go to war, you try to block out the idea that you — or one of your soldiers — might not come back. But that’s the reality of war. Not everyone comes home. Freedom has a high cost to it.
But in the preparation process, a deep bond is developed with the soldiers you’re going to war with. You spend a lot of time together. Trust is built. Your life will be in their hands, so you learn to love the guys.
And one thing that’s important is that you laugh together. There has to be some moments of flat out fun, because there will be times when things won’t be so fun, and those fun memories will help.
For instance, on one training operation we did live fire exercises, which means we were using real ammunition as we faced different scenarios out on a shooting range. Targets would pop up. Soldiers were moving all around. That kind of stuff.
We did that all day long and all night long with no time for sleep. Then early in the morning — while it was still dark — we started another twenty-four hours of exhaustion as we had to pass four different tests as a platoon. And the first test was an unknown distance road march.
Now if you don’t know, a road march is where soldiers walk — with all of their gear — a really long distance. Usually you know how far you’re going to walk — but not this time. All we knew is that we had five hours to get there.
I think we walked close to 20 miles — I’m not really sure — but the reason why I share this story is because at some point in the road march — one of my soldiers asked, “How much farther do we have to go?” Of course, I had no idea because the distance was “unknown” — and the soldier knew that — but for some reason he asked and I said, “Only a hundred meters left” which is about the length of a football field.
Well that soldier started telling everyone else we only had a hundred meters to go. And all of the soldiers got super excited. They knew I had know idea how far we actually had to go, but they needed a boost of energy, that “Hey the bossman says we only got a hundred meters to go. Ain’t he a dummy” kind of boost of energy.
Now flash forward with me a few months later and we’re in Afghanistan. We’d made contact with the enemy earlier in the day and we’re chasing after them. We have no idea how much farther we have to go — and in twenty-four hours we ended up walking nearly fifty miles — and here we are with bad guys out there and we’re walking and walking and walking and that soldier — that same soldier from the road march — asks me, “How much farther do we have to go?”
And do you know what I said to him? A hundred meters. And I kid you not. In the middle of combat — when the stress is high, and everyone’s radar is up because the enemy is out there — that soldier started telling everyone we only had a hundred more meters to go.
And the soldiers all started laughing. They started joking a bit. The edge was taken off. I had no idea it was what they needed at the time, but we needed a break from combat — just for a second — and that silly memory of a road march months early was just what they needed.
That’s the kind of bond soldiers have with one another. That’s the kind of friendship — the kind of love they have for one another. You’ve probably heard of stories where a soldier jumps on a grenade to save his buddies. What compels someone to make a sacrifice like that? The answer is love.
And as moving as that kind of sacrificial love is to us, there’s been an even greater display of love. And I don’t want to take away from the sacrifice and love that we see when someone gives up their life for another person — that soldier who kept asking me how much farther to go was later killed in Iraq — so I know what it means for someone to pay the ultimate sacrifice — but if we look at that kind of sacrifice and are amazed at the cost — how much more amazed should we be when we think of God giving up the life of His Son for us?
That’s what Jesus is talking about in our verses. In John 15:12 He gives us the commandment, which is to love each other. But He gets real specific and He tells us to love each other in the same way that He loved us. And how did Jesus love us? He gave His life for us, right? That’s the greatest act of love a person can do for another.
That’s what we see in the next verse where Jesus says, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NLT)
And Jesus laid down His life for us — His friends. Are you amazed that you’re Jesus’ friend? I am. I mean I’m pretty messed up and I’m a pastor! I can’t believe some of the things I do, say, or think about. Yet Jesus calls me His friend. He sacrificed His life for me. What a wonderful gift.
But it’s a gift that comes with a price — it cost Jesus His life and it costs us ours as well. For Jesus gives us a command that we’re to obey. And the command is that we’re to love others the way Jesus loved us. We’re to give our lives in love for others.
So what does that mean?
It means that if we’ve experienced and received Jesus’ love for us, we’re to go and love others in the same way — by giving our lives for them.
For many Christians obeying this command meant literally being killed because they loved Jesus and wanted others to experience His love. It still happens today in many nations around the world where Christians are being killed.
For other Christians giving our lives means we love people who others may not think are loveable. We love to divide ourselves up into all kinds of groups — and it doesn’t end when you graduate high school. Our nation is so divided — yet I wonder what would happen if we Christians would just love all people — I bet some things would change in our country.
Who’s someone that needs to experience God’s love through you today? Who is someone God is saying, “Make the sacrifice and go love them today. Sure it’ll cost you something. Maybe your reputation. Maybe a few friends. Maybe a few minutes of your time. But My love for you cost My Son His life. So — in comparison — what I’m asking you to do isn’t all that big of a deal.”
“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13 NLT)
Jesus laid down His life so that we would know He loves us. And we’re to lay down our lives for others so they know Jesus loves them too.
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us. Thank you for loving us even when it cost You much. For Your love for us cost You the life of Your Son. In response to Your great love, help us to love others. Help us to make the sacrifices You want us to make so that many more people would know and experience Your love for them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.