Love: The Burden

Introduction:

Welcome my friend,

It's good to be here with you on this year's Good Friday remembrance.

It was also the same last year when we discussed love - beyond all rationality, highlighting the kind of love that makes a person go the extra mile for their loved ones.

Indeed, today's theme is somewhat similar as we discuss love - the burden.

Here, the aim is to learn from Jesus Christ's relationship with his disciples up until one of them betrayed Him to death.

After all, that's the essence of the entire Good Friday reflection.

Discussion:

When we talk about the burden of love, what we actually refer to are those sacrifices that we make for the ones we love for the sake of that love.

When people come together it's because they have similar interests, values, goals or any other common ground on which the bond was established.

Jesus Christ met His disciples at various points connecting with each one on a level that made them trust in Him enough to lay everything aside and follow Him.

This they did willingly having seen Him teach and act in ways that inspired love and respect for Him in them.

It wasn't an easy decision then just like now and probably much worse, because following Jesus Christ isn't the popular thing to do.

Yet they readily made the sacrifice, living with all the burden that came from doing so.

■ What They Gave Up For Jesus Christ

Many times when we tell the story of Jesus Christ's death, we remember Judas Iscariot as the one who betrayed Him and Peter as the one that denied Him.

Yet these men were really more than that.

Like everyone of all His disciples, working up close with Him, they were in fact the first set of folks to give up everything for His sake including;

▪︎ Their Dreams

Love makes us abandon everything else and buy into another person's vision, becoming key elements of it and playing critical roles.

Friends have come together as business partners, allowing their collaboration to become a solution to the needs of all the people that have patronized them.

Big visions need helping hands and if we find ourselves being drawn to buy into an idea by a friend we shouldn't let overfamiliarity cause us to belittle it.

Jesus Christ's disciples willingly gave up their respective careers and aspirations and followed Him playing their part in His ministry.

▪︎ Their Reputation 

In an environment where everyone would rather be neutral, being known as a Christian might require some courage and not too many folks are ready for that.

Jesus Christ's disciples were ready to be openly associated with Him even though He was so unpopular that the people rather asked for the release of Barabbas, a murderer and insurrectionist ahead of Him.

▪︎ Their Ego 

It takes humility to be a follower and when we follow the right people they lead us to greatness.

Jesus Christ gathered a group of mostly unprofessionals including fishermen and made them a part of a story that is still told till this day simply because they humbled themselves and followed Him.

▪︎ Their Freedom and Time

The disciples gave up their preferences opting to do whatever He was doing and following Him wherever He went.

This required great commitment.

They also exposed themselves to danger, being targeted by the same people that wanted to take out their master.

■ Why They Could Do This

The first step to following Jesus Christ is obedience after which He begins to teach us how to follow Him leading us by the hand and by example.

God's love for us allowed Him to cause His son to die for us and our sins paying the ultimate price of death, even death on a cross (an undignified way to die).

In working closely with Jesus Christ these disciples witnessed all the amazing things He could do firsthand.

They were there when he: brought folks back from the dead, healed others, cursed trees and walked on water.

Yet he related personally with them even washing their feet.

In this, they watched the son of God give up His position and His power to dwell amongst men for the sake of His love for man.

This was enough to inspire them to readily give up any remaining parts of them they were still holding back from using for His service.

■ How This Concerns Us 

Now that we've seen all His disciples did, what are we willing to give up to follow Him?

Even to this day, following Jesus Christ is a decision that still demands us to give up everything.

We may not have to be preachers or priests, giving up our careers to follow Him, but we can still serve Him in our various spheres of livelihood.

To be difference makers in how we interact with others and do business, allowing our light to always shine through in our conduct.

When we give up everything to follow Him, He rewards us with eternal life.

■ Reconciling With Jesus Christ 

Peter and Judas both betrayed Jesus Christ one by denying Him and the other by selling Him out for money.

They both felt guilty and remorseful for it, however, they both also responded differently.

While Peter returned to the fold and allowed himself to continue being useful in God's service, Judas killed himself, limiting what God could have done through Him.

Jesus Christ makes room for our mistakes, staying patient with us and even freely offering us forgiveness, when we simply believe.

In other words, all it takes is acknowledging this His sacrifice on the cross and accepting it as our only path to redemption.

Summary:

All healthy love involves giving and making sacrifices, many of which wouldn't be tangible things.

Love is unconditional which means that each person accepts the other person wholeheartedly for who they are.

Here, there's no classism, discrimination or condemnation because it doesn't exist since this love is harmonious.

This is the kind God offers us, so that regardless of who we are and where we are, we can come to Him as one, bound by our belief in the death of His son Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice.

Master Apprentice.

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