Love and Mercy
OPENING THOUGHT
Toyohiko Kagawa was a Japanese activist who endured the second world war and led a movement in his country to use Christian principles to promote peace and reform. Before the war, he was arrested three times for his peace movement. But after the war, the prime minister appealed to him, saying, “Only Jesus Christ was able to love his enemies… Help me to put the love of Jesus Christ into the hearts of our people.” The Emperor even gave him a half-hour private audience to explain to him the meaning of the cross.
Kagawa said, “The cross is the crystallization of love.” In other words, the cross exhibits God’s love for us and the measure of love we should show to others.
He also said, “As in a single word, Christ’s love movement is summed up in the cross. The cross is the whole of Christ, the whole of love.”
Kagawa seems in line with Paul’s words, “The goodness and lovingkindness of God our Savior appeared” (Titus 3:4). There is no love like Jesus’ love. As we look at his love and mercy, may we seek to emulate it!
EXPLORING GOD’S WORD
John 13:1, 34-35
What did John mean by “his own”? Is this Jesus’ love for the whole world? (John 3:16). Or is this a more intimate love of the disciples, his closest friends? (cf. Mark 3:14; John 11:5).
What do you think John meant when he said Jesus “loved them to the end”? What's he saying he loved them until he died? Or could he have been saying that he loved them to the uttermost?
At this point, did Jesus know Judas would betray him and Peter would deny him? How does this affect your appreciation for his love toward his disciples?
Others commanded love before Jesus. Why do you think he called his command to love one another a “new commandment”?
Do you think you could have affection for others, knowing they would betray you?
John 15:12-13
What forms of love are eliminated by the qualification, “as I have loved you”?
Did Jesus practice what he preached?
Colossians 3:12-15
Paul lists a number of challenging commands here. Which do you find to be the most difficult?
The Lord is given as a model of love and mercy in this passage. How does this help us fulfill these commands?
We are told to “let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.” What other things are we tempted to allow to rule in our hearts instead?
1 John 4:7-10
What is meant by “God is love”? Is God the same thing as love?
Can a person know God if he does not love?
How is love defined here?
How should these verses affect the way we love each other?
