This week is Holy Week, a time we remember some of Jesus last days, and some of the most formative events for our faith. Most of what happened in this week was misunderstood by those there, because they had hopes, and expectations for Jesus and well, he didn’t measure up to what they hoped for. On Maundy Thursday Jesus modeled what being a servant leader was to his followers.
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.