Two is Company. Three's a Church
Text: John 15:12-17
Pastor James Sheldon
May 17, 2009
One of the greatest gifts any one of us can receive is a good friend.
Think about times in your own life, when you were really blessed by close friends. For example: many celebrated a wedding. There the best man or maid of honor was a real close friend to the bride or groom. In fact, at almost every milestone along the way of your life, most likely you had a friend or two there with you. And of course brothers and sisters are among your best friends too--or should be.
The people who followed Jesus were often called not only his friends, but also his brothers and sisters. You and I, if we follow Jesus, are his brothers and sisters--so he says. More than that we are brothers and sisters to each other and to people places around the world. (I am speaking of Christians. That's why we can all pray, "Our Father...." We are brothers and sisters to each other.
This truth is has always been there. Many centuries ago the wise man Solomon said this: "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24) Jesus often came to people--especially those who were struggling and in special need--and called them his friends.
That's why in John's gospel, as we read, Jesus said that his followers were not just his servants, but more importantly we are his true friends.
Right off, let me ask you to do this: Turn to someone near and greet that person in two ways. First, reach over to them and either shake their hand, or give them a hug and say, "It's so good to have you here, Friend."
But next take it a step further. Turn to the same person or someone else near you and say, "I thank God you are my brother (or sister)." Go ahead and do that. Great. Now we are one, big family--and so we should be.
I hasten to add this: We are a family of believers due to one major fact. God sent his son, Jesus. He came while we couldn't have been a family member. That's because we were rooted in our old sinful nature--human nature as it's often called.
But God loved us so much that he sent his own Son, who paid for our sins, and so made it possible for us to become children of God--as if we were totally without sin. God cared about us thaaaaaat much--as much as the cross of Christ. And that is why we can love others not merely with a worldly love, but with the family love of God Himself.
The handshake and hug you just gave each other is right from God. You just welcomed each other and expressed your care. Now I invite you to go back to Jesus' words here in John's gospel, and let Jesus give you some perfect guidelines on how to live out your life with real care for others. Ready?
I. The first thing that Jesus calls us to have is this: Let the love you have received in the past be your base--your foundation platform--for the brotherly love in your life. And the right kind of love is always the kind of unselfish care that Jesus himself shared.
The very words of Jesus are these. Look at verse 12, where Jesus says, "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." That's his command for us today.
The deep, solid, rock base for our love is the love that Jesus set out a long time ago. Note how He even talks about it in the past tense here. Jesus says, "Love each other as I have loved you." Put simply, Jesus came to us out of God love right from the beginning.
John 3:16 points to the same truth. It says, "God so loved the world [That's the past tense], that he gave [past tense] his only begotten son...." The Apostle Paul gave the same truth to Timothy. 2 Tim 1:9 says, "This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time...." It's essential that you set your faith on this bedrock of God's love that has always been there. God is love. He has given us love from the beginning of time and every day up to now.
And I am sure you can name many people who have fleshed out God's love for you in the past. Here's an example out of my own life. My own father was an atheist, but I had an aunt who encouraged my faith during my childhood. Later I had several teachers, who showed Christian care and concern for me. In my twenties, I had a friend, who's family were Christians. They led me Christ, and my life was never the same. I was born again. And they did this out of real care for me, so God used them to give His love.
The same kind of thing can happen to you. Look back in your past. Think of people who have shown God's love to you along the way. They as well had others who shared Christ's love with them beforehand --and others before them, and others before them. You can actually trace the love of God back through every generation leading up to today. God's been there all along. Jesus has come to each person who has ever needed Him.
Or do this: Feel the very pew you are sitting on. Others sat there before you. God's love worked on , in and through them. Again look at the wood floor. Generations have stood there. Then hear the words of the hymns and songs we've song. They tells you of the love of God that has come through generations. It has been consistent and powerful.
So Jesus first says to you, (v. 13) "Love each other as I have loved you." Whatever has happened to you in the past, you can be sure of one thing: God has always loved you. He has offered to be with us and care for us all along. He calls us to come together and celebrate that fact: God has always loved you.
II. Next, step into the very present--right here, right now-- and be assured that God's love is present, and the Christian friends you have are with you right now.
That's exactly what Jesus says here in the passage we read. In verse 14 Jesus says, "You are my friends...." And He then makes an important point for all of us catch. It goes like this: "You are my friends if you do what I command." And what is His command? The answer is right here in the two previous verses, where Jesus says, "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." (vss.12-13) That's what he wants us to do now.
Just like God has always loved you and always called you to be His personal friend, even today--especially right now--, God wants you to come to him, be willing to obey Him, and so accept his call and his love. And if you do this, your love for God becomes your love for others around you--especially others who love Him.
When you share your care with each other, it's not just a temporary feeling. No! What you have is God's consistent and eternal love, it flows through you and is shared with everyone around you. And that same love flows through all those around you and then comes back to you as well. It's a soaking, present care God shares every day.
Do this: Imagine how a dog jumps in a pond, swims around, and then comes out. The dog then may come up to you and shake the water off its fur? The closer you are to the dog, the wetter you get. You've probably experienced this first-hand.
Well, the same thing should happen with God's love, when you come into this church. The people around you have been doused with that love, so it rubs off onto you. You can feel God's love. It should let it soak into your life and fill your heart.
That's one of the main reasons we need to come together regularly and often. Jesus promised in Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
You have heard the corny expression, "Two's company; three's a crowd," right? Well among Christians that gets changed to "Two's Company; Three's a church." I am describing how when God's people join together, God's love is shared among them. Jesus said, "You (that's plural) are my friends." Right before this (verse 12), Jesus said, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." He is calling us to get together and care for each other now.
So let me ask you: Are you willing to share together and care together? Are you willing to come together regularly and often? Jesus calls us to love one another, and the only way you are really going to show and share that love is if you walk together, work together and worship together. John says, "The word became flesh and dwelt among us." You and I are now the flesh of Jesus, that needs to be present for each other. I'll repeat: Jesus, says, "When two or more are gathered in my name, I am with them. (Mat 18:20) And again he said, "You are my friend..." That's true right now.
Now as much as the love and presence of Christ has always been there, and it is with us now in the present, realize that something even more amazing. Ready? It's this....
III. Your friends of faith are also going to be your friends for forever.
As Christians, you are not only going to be with Christ for eternity, but you are going to be with other believers--your brothers and sisters-- for eternity.
I make this amazing claim, based on words that Jesus gives here in verses 16 and 17. His words are: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other." Christian Love is fruit that will last forever.
What will happen to the fruit Jesus gives us? What will be the effect of true care we share with each other? Jesus answers that question by saying the "fruit that will last." Will it last a few days? More. A few of months? More. A couple of years? The obvious answer is this: His real love will last forever.
The Apostle Paul sang about this kind of Godly love in 1 Cor. 13. Verse 8 says, "Love never fails." That means that God's Love is on-going, eternal. A few verses later at the end of 1 Cor 13, Paul makes the astounding claim: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
He repeats the same claim in 1 John 4:7, saying it this way: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."
I assure you of one truth here: This kind of love-- unselfish care given by God through you to others--is eternal. It will not die. It cannot be taken away from you. You will have and share His love forever and ever.
If you accept God's, eternal love, then everyone else who accepts Christ's love joins you in that eternal love! So I'll say it again: "Two is Company. Three's a Church." Include Christ in your relationship with other believers, and then the love of Christ comes and stays with you. I even dare to say, if it is here now, eternity has started for you.
Jesus says this here in verse 16: "I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." Then he adds (verse 17): "This is my command: Love each other."
That is such a sweet fruit that we should keep growing in us all!
Here is a poem that summarizes God's call for us to come together as Christians--to be a real, church the way Jesus would have us be. The poem goes like this:
There are those who pass like ships in the night.
Who meet for a moment, then sail out of sight
With never a backward glance of regret;
Folks we know briefly then quickly forget.
Then there are friends who sail together
Through quiet waters and stormy weather
Helping each other through joy and through strife.
And they are the kind who give meaning to life.
Let me ask you first: Have you really brought Jesus into your heart as your loving Savior? If you haven't then you need to. Today would be the perfect day to do so.
And if you have, then you need to follow obey call and be part of His church. As I said, Two is company: You and I come together. That's two. But then we need to include Jesus with us. As such we become His church. "Two is company; Three's a church."
If you aren't a member of this church, then today would be a great day become one. We joyously welcome you in the name of Christ.
Would you pray with me now? Open your heart to Christ's invitation to you.
Now as we sing, I warmly invited to come up and let me welcome you into this church family.
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