Jesus cared so much for others that he would not let them remain in their darkness or misunderstandings. Yet he never condemned them. Rather, He called their mistakes to mind. He also showed a remarkable sense of their inability to handle the full truth, choosing to be patient: “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (John 16:12)
A key passage in the New Testament lays down the foundation upon which all other biblical perspectives on love may be understood. The scene is also fascinating.
Jesus is at the temple in Jerusalem, where pigeons are being sacrificed and the smell and smoke are great. An official scribe working at the temple overheard Jesus answering questions, and he liked Jesus’ responses; so he asked the Teacher a very important question. Here is the biblical account:
One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that Jesus had answered them well, asked him, “What commandment is the first of all?”
Jesus answered, “The first is, Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
And the scribe said unto him, “Of a truth, Teacher, you have well said that the Lord is one and there is none other but God; and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all burnt-offerings and sacrifices.”
And when Jesus heard that the scribe answered well, he said unto him, “You are close to the kingdom of God.”
Mark 12:28-34; RSV
Notice that Jesus acknowledged the wisdom and understanding that the scribe had gained in his personal spiritual search. Notice also that, although the scribe was standing in the physical world, Jesus said that he was close to the kingdom of God. This reveals that the kingdom of God is not beyond this world and physicality. Heaven may be approached while incarnate. Additionally, notice that an official of the temple, in which the practice of animal- and grain-burning were part of the daily ritual, had come to know that these sacrifices were not what God sought from his people. God seeks love from us—love toward God and toward our neighbors.
Keep in mind that those who live with us are our closest neighbors, though we often take them for granted. These most assuredly should receive our love.
The Edgar Cayce readings add an interesting perspective to Jesus’ use of the name Israel. They say that the real Israel is reflected in the origin of this name, which is Jacob’s seeking so persistently to be blessed by God that he actually wrestles with an angel of God’s until the angel finally agrees to bless him. Here is that passage. (Notice that Jacob is “by himself” yet wrestling, which is the indication that he is wrestling in the spirit, with an angel of the Lord.)
Jacob was by himself; and a man was fighting with him till dawn. But when the man saw that he was not able to overcome Jacob, he gave him a blow in the hollow part of his leg, so that his leg was damaged. And he said to him, “Let me go now, for the dawn is near.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go till you have given me your blessing.” Then he said, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” And he said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel: for in your fight with God and with men you have overcome.”
Then Jacob said, “What is your name?” And he said, “What is my name to you?” Then he gave him a blessing.
And Jacob gave that place the name of Peniel, saying, I have seen God face to face, and still I am living.
Genesis 32:24-30; BBE
Here’s Cayce’s explanation of this:
This is the meaning, this should be the understanding to all: Those that seek are Israel. “Think not to call yourselves the promise in Abraham. Know you not that the Lord is able to raise up children of Abraham from the very stones?” So Abraham means the call; so Israel means those who seek. How obtained the supplanter [this is the literal meaning of the Hebrew name Jacob] the name Israel? He wrestled with the angel, and he was face to face with the seeking to know His way. So it is with us that are called and seek His face; we are the Israel!
262-28 and 5377-1; brackets mine
A New Commandment
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:34; RSV
By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.
John 13:35; RSV
Clearly, Jesus is calling us to come to know love and to live in love. His group will be identifiable by this one characteristic: they express love.
The disciple Paul took up this new way, writing:
Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8; RSV
Paul had much to say in his affirming of love’s role in the spiritual life, the most famous being this passage:
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long, and is kind; love envies not; love exalts not itself, is not puffed up, love never fails—but where there be prophecies, they shall be done away; where there be tongues, they shall cease; where there be knowledge, it shall be done away. But now abides faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love. Follow after love; let all that you do be done in love. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Excerpts taken from 1 Corinthians 13-16
It is in one of the letters of the apostle John that we find an important insight into why love is so important. John tells us that the quintessential quality of God is love. Love is the music of God, the vibration of God, and the spirit of God.
My loved ones, let us have love for one another because love is of God, and everyone who has love is a child of God and has knowledge of God. He who has no love has no knowledge of God, because God is love. No man has ever seen God; if we have love for one another, God is in us and his love is made complete in us. His Spirit, which he has given us, is the witness that we are in him and he is in us. And we have seen and had faith in the love, which God has for us. God is love, and everyone who has love is in God, and God is in him.
1 John 4:7-16; BBE
God is love, and all who live and express love, live in and express God. Perhaps the most difficult of the teachings on love is that we are not only to love our neighbors but also our enemies.
You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy; but I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; that you may be sons [and daughters] of your Father
