“There is a circle on earth. Within that circle is the greatest thing in the world. It’s the greatest thing in the universe – redemptive love. Inside that circle is heaven on earth. Outside that circle is hell on earth.”
Those words come from an old time preacher who found the redemptive love of Christ in solitary confinement in prison. That love was so sweet and pure he begged God to let him stay in that cell forever.
In that cell a heart full of hatred was transformed into a reservoir of divine love for humanity.
The disciples of Jesus encountered that kind of love on a momentous night they would never forget. After washing the feet of the disciples, Jesus gave them a new command – love one another. That part wasn’t really new, it was the next words that changed everything: “as I have loved you”. (John 13:34)
The distinguishing, authenticating mark of Christ’s disciples on earth is this love. So we have to ask, how did Jesus love the disciples?
- He loved them with a present touch.
- He loved them with an individual touch.
- He loved them with an asymmetrical love.
- He loved them with a gracious love.
- He loved them with a patient and faithful love.
- He loved them with a servant-hearted love.
- He loved them with a self-giving love.
- He loved them with a costly love.
If I had to pick a word to sum all of this up – it might be this: Jesus loves his disciples with a redemptive love.
A local church is a community where Jesus draws a circle and says in this circle we will love one another with a redemptive love.
What a glorious privilege!
Tom Brown is the planting pastor of Vintage Faith Church in Wichita. Tom and his wife, Mandy, have worked together in ministry for over 20 years and have four children. More about Pastor Tom Brown