May 13, 2012 · John 15:12–13

Love One Another Like a Mother

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

“You might say: I don't need any new friends. I'm busy enough already. I've said that before in my life. You don't need any new friends? Okay. It's not about you. That's the whole point Jesus is making here. Do they need a friend? Are you willing to love like Jesus? Do you think Jesus needed new friends? Is that why he chose you? No — he chose you so that your joy would be made complete, by listening to him and being a friend to others in his name. Do you want to change Toronto for the gospel? Start loving people here and now. Love one another. We're praying that God brings growth this year in Christ. We want to see spiritual growth. We would love to see numerical growth even. If we ask this, and we truly lay down our life, we will receive it. That's what Christ said. Love one another, and we'll see our prayers answered. It's as old as the gospel itself. It's harder than anything in life. But in the ways in which you sacrifice something and love someone in your midst — it will complete your joy. We are the church. Christ is our mother. Let us love one another like we love our mother.”