In Acts 5 the disciples are again under fire from the religious leaders, who are running out of ideas about what to do with this movement. So in a moment of unusual clarity, a Jewish leader recommends that they leave the disciples alone, because if this is of God, no human can stop it, and if it’s a human endeavor it will fail all by itself.
John starts his gospel by telling us that the word became flesh and dwelt among us. Of all the ways Jesus could have entered into this world, it matters that Jesus became a human. His arrival tells us about his mission and purpose.
As John closes out his first letter, he wants to drive home just a few things. First, loving connection to Jesus Christ is the foundation that everything else rests on. Second, overflowing from that relationship, we are called to be a blessing to the world in a way that overcomes the challenges, struggles and burdens that life sends our way.
1 Corinthians 13 is often quoted at weddings and begins by simply saying love is….The second part of 1 John 4 has as much or more to say about what God means when we hear God is love, and that we are to love one another.