With much of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles we learn about the early development of the church. What we learn from this passage is that Barnabas and Paul have traveled over the Mediterranean area of the Roman Empire. They preached the message of Jesus and those who believed were baptized with local leaders designated to carry on the Faith after Paul and Barnabas left. Many of those who came forward to believe were Gentiles. It was from the community in Antioch that Paul and Barnanbas were sent. As they finished their first missionary journey they return to Antioch to report to the community what they had experienced. Antioch was their home base.
There is a propensity in all of us to remain with the familiar. We become comfortable with certain patterns and ways of thinking and acting. There is a danger that we fall into a groove that can become a rut. What Jesus has revealed in a new way of living, thinking and acting. This is the New Jerusalem that John talks about in this passage. Formerly the sign of God's presence with His people was evidenced in the temple in Jerusalem. What the resurrection of Jesus has brought about is that we the community of believers is the living sign of God’s presence shown and experienced by how we live and what we profess. We are that New Jerusalem.
Jesus passes on the responsibility that had been entrusted to Him by His Father to us. We are to bring this message to those who have yet to hear it or believe in it. What gave Jesus His credibility was that He lived the message and revelation that He preached by His unconditional love for all. This is now what we are to do in imitation of Christ. We are to love one another as Jesus has loved us. That is a love that is unconditional, universal, unremitting patient and forgiving. His love for us is to be seen in our love for one another.
There are certain descriptions that we have heard applied to others. Some of may have been used to describe us. It had been said that it is best not to cross certain individuals because if we do we will pay a price. We all know certain individuals who are very vindictive. There are some people we avoid or refrain from telling any private or personal information because they are unable to keep confidentiality or a secret. If they hear information it could be on the internet before night fall. Some cannot refrain from gossip.
Others among us have been known to carry a grudge for years. These forget everything except a grudge or a quarrel. Still there are those of us who are known as non stop talkers. A conversation with such individuals is a near impossibility because they will not let anyone get in a word edgewise. Such are incessant talkers but woefully inadequate listeners. Finally there are those who relish the limelight and the center stage. If anyone's achievement is brought up these are the ones who have done the same thing before and have done it ten times better.
Many of us probably could name certain individuals for each of these categories. We all have come across the vindictive, the grudge carriers, the non stop talker, and the stage and limelight stealer. We are very adept at seeing such flaws in others but when it comes to our own self examination we are blind and clueless.
There really is no hope for change or conversion unless we are able to see in ourselves the flaws we see in others. A helpful aid that can assist us is the importance of learning the difference between reacting and responding. Most of us have mastered the skill of reacting. How often are we enraged over an issue or rally to our own defense when we feel set upon or are quick to blame or surface an excuse? We are astute in reacting but we are not quite as adept in responding.
If we are to respond we must first hear what is said then let our emotions have their time to resent, to vent, to rage. Then with a certain amount of honesty look at ourselves to see if what has been said contains an element of truth and accuracy. Not everything that raises an issue about how we act is meant to hurt us. Some of what is said by those who love us is intended to help us.
The book of Revelation talks about a New Jerusalem. Jesus has made all things new. Some behaviors that which has been with us for years is in need of being made new. Look around at our sanctuary that was new twenty years ago. Now is the time that it is made new again. When you remodel your bathrooms or kitchen it means the time has come for those rooms to be made new.
From the gospel we hear a way to make those areas of us that are in need of being made new. Love one another. Such as my love has been for you so must you love one another.
The love that Jesus is talking about is not gooey or self serving but it contains patience when we would just as easily loose our tempers. It involves including all not selectively excluding some from our love. It rules out our saying “I’ll love you if you do this for me”. Perhaps the hardest of all it extends to those whom we have loved and forgiven time and time again and yet they do not seem to measure up but continue to be in need or our compassion and understanding. Those are the ways that we have been loved and that is how we are to be the sign of the Lord’s love to others. We are that new creation, the New Jerusalem which brings to others the touch of God’s love and presence. We can best do it by learning how to respond and not just react.