As I grow older, ………….! Day 10

Love is all you need.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

Many consider Dr. Karl Barth as one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century. And there is this story about his teaching at one of the US seminaries. Dr. Barth was supposed to address the seminarians on a Monday. But the prior Sunday night, at a dinner in his honor, he was asked by the seminarians to share what he learnt from the Bible. Everyone was waiting to hear something profound, a new teaching etc. Dr. Barth stood up, smiled and said “Jesus loves me this I know; for the Bible tells me so.” (There are many versions of this story but the same ending)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, If I say the name ‘Apostle John’ and asked you what comes to your mind, you will probably say – author of the Gospel; author of Revelation; the disciple Jesus loved; one of Jesus’ inner circle; a son of thunder (Boanerges); etc.

Now John is a brash and volatile person- he is one of the brothers who asks “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”(Luke 9:51-55). He is also very bold and direct as evidenced by his ambitious request “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Later when Jesus asks “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”,  John, along with his brother, replies “We are able.” (Mark 10:35-40). His aggression is evident when he says, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”(Mark 9:38-40).

Dear Friend, that’s how a young John is introduced to us in the Gospels, but do you know that he is called the 'Apostle of Love'? It is stated that as he grew older he spoke mostly of the love of God and love for the brothers. In fact, we can observe from his five books that John encourages us not only to know ‘The Truth’ but also to love one another.

So as we get closer and closer to Jesus and by His grace being sanctified by him, let us reflect upon and appreciate Jesus’ love.

Abba, Father, I thank you for your love shown in your Son’s sacrifice and in the giving of your Spirit. Let me love others as I love myself. Amen!