October 5, 2003 9:00 a.m.
Sermon - Tony Yim: "If you love one another"
John 13.34-35

One day, a wintry day, a young hitchhiker received something, but not exactly what he wanted. He'd been sticking his thumb in the bone-chilling air for a ride. As the day dragged on, his hand was getting red from the numbing cold.
A shiny, red Corvette crept past the hitchhiker in the slow moving traffic. As it passed him, the window on the passenger's side rolled down and a pair of gloves flew out to the thumber.
The youth put the gloves on, waved thank you, and kept on thumbing in the snowy 28-degree weather, but now with a pair of warm hands. (Author unknown, cited in Medard Laz's, "Love Adds A Little Chocolate," p. 24.)
It's true, "It's the human touch that counts."
Early on, the New Testament tells how Jesus' family was out of touch with him. Biblical scholars comment on the remarkable bluntness of Mark's gospel in the telling of the split between Jesus and his family. Mark 3.19b to verse 21 candidly says, "Then he went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, 'He has gone out of his mind.'" The family sided with the crowd's viewpoint.

Mark 3.31 identifies the family members who had gone out to grab Jesus. "Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him." As time past, the rift between Jesus and his brothers continued to fester as John 7.1-5 shows: "After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee; he did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jewish authorities there were wanting to kill him. The time for the Festival of Shelters was near, so Jesus' brothers said to him, 'Leave this place and go to Judea, so that your followers will see the things that you are doing. No one hides what he is doing if he wants to be well known. Since you are doing these things, let the whole world know about you!' (Not even his brothers believed in him.)" While it is jolting to learn Jesus' brothers didn't believe in him, it is even more shocking they deliberately advised him to return to Judea where his enemies were scheming to murder him. It's more than sibling dislike. Hatred crouched nearby. Would each of these brothers have asked the same question as Cain did, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4.9)
Those who knew him best, understood him least. And everyone in Nazareth heard the gossip.
Yet, following Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension, a dramatic reversal occurred. It is reported in the first book after the Gospels, in the book of Acts at 1.14, where the most remarkable conversion has taken place. "All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus as well as his brothers." Jesus' "brothers," the ones of whom it was said, "(For not even his brothers believed in him)"-were now believers going up to "the room upstairs" to worship and pray to Jesus.

This transformation continued, a dozen years later, James, the brother of the Lord, who had not believed in his brother Jesus, is a leader among the elders and apostles in Jerusalem. James delivered his finding at a crucial Jerusalem council meeting regarding how the Gentiles were to be received as Christians without additional requirements or restrictions from the Hebrew Christians. James declared, "Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God". (Acts 15.19)
What caused James, and the other brothers, to turn and believe in Jesus and become devout followers?
At Jesus' betrayal and arrest his disciples ran for their lives. Mark 14.50 depicts the fearful disciples: "All of them deserted him and fled." They hid behind locked doors. Simon Peter spat out his denial three times, "Jesus? Who?"
What brought the disciples back? The risen Christ appeared to them! He breathed on them. He spoke to them. Meeting the disciples on the shore, Jesus served them fish and bread. What caused James and his brothers to turn from disbelief to belief in Jesus? The risen Christ appeared to them! He shared his love for the family in a touching way, at the least expected moment.
Jesus has said, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." What Jesus spoke, "Just as I have loved you", he lived through his actions on the cross. He loved the world by giving his life. And for each person the Lord speaks a personal word. On the cross while suffering and dying, Jesus did something extraordinary. He showed a strong personal loyalty and devotion to Mary and his family. "When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, 'Woman, here is your son.' Then he said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home." As Jesus endured the pain of death, he secured Mary's well-being. His love made the family tremble.
The grace of Jesus is in the world today. Here's an account of a Christian living like Jesus to share his grace.

A terrible ice storm had hit Pittsburgh. Traveling was dangerous. A church family called their pastor with an emergency. Their little boy had leukemia and needed medical attention. Their doctor told them to take the boy to the hospital. An ambulance couldn't be sent. And the family didn't own a car.
The pastor's car was in the repair shop, so he called a church elder. Immediately, the elder began the treacherous trip. Conditions were so slippery and slick, he could barely bring his car to a stop.
The parents brought out the little boy wrapped in a blanket. Mom got in the front seat and held her son. Dad got in the back. Ever so slowly, they drove to the hospital.
They came to the bottom of a hill and skidded to a stop. The elder tried to decide whether he should attempt to make the grade on the other side, or whether he should go to the right and down the valley.
As he was thinking about this, he chanced to look to his right and saw the face of the little boy. The youngster's face was flushed, and his eyes wide with fever and with fear. To comfort the child, the elder reached over and tousled his hair. It was then the little boy asked, "Mister- - - Mister, are you Jesus?" (Craig Brian Larson, "750. Engaging Illustrations," p. 418.)
Yes, loving as Jesus loves requires courage. But, it's worth it, because it's the human touch that counts. Remember, "If you love one another," you'll keep in touch, and "everyone will know that you are" his "disciples."