By this shall all men know...the Wayfarer 8/16/17

By this shall all men know
8/16/17

John 13:33-35

³³Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. ³⁴A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. ³⁵By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

A commandment encompassing all previous commandments, a distillation, of all law and the reason behind all prophecy, a simple, unmistakable commandment, brooking no question, allowing no misinterpretation, allowing no prejudice or condition, no deviation because of politics, history, position of wealth, or power of any kind, IS, not was, the commandment, singularly given by Christ Jesus.

Equality and equitablity of application despite circumstance, for any and all sides in opposition to any other, remains obvious intent, unshaded, uncorrupted, holding no ulterior motive within that commandment.

There is no, "but" contained within that commandment, no allowance for the universal application of its intent.

Voices may rage, ever louder, actions may become ever increasingly violent, divisions become ever more obvious in men who profess belief in Christ Jesus, only to deny Him by their actions and permutations that attempt to quantify that commandment, attempt to supplant and replace that commandment with some bastardization that restricts the extent of that love only to those in agreement with the raging and violent denial so evident among men, yet that commandment stands, in and of itself in equality and the justice delivered through it.

Matthew 24:35

³⁵Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Belief, or disbelief, in those words remain evident in the actions and reactions ALL sides, ALL cliques, ALL divisions, ALL peoples of ALL nations, communities, cities, families and individuals comprising a society that would accept only those words acceptable to them while abandoning the context and intent of that single Commandment left by Christ Jesus.

Families take pride in family surname, as famous, and, infamous of the same name are remembered,  reputation of that name is touted in the eyes and ears of those wished to be impressed by the importance, toughness, ruthlessness, or other character trait considered by them to be worthy of living up to.

Few take pride in the meekness and love that is demanded by the surname most important to God, Christian, or Unbeliever.

Jesus was aware of the pride of the world, and the results of that pride and its eventual cost for all clinging to that pride, aware of the results to be reaped by the deviations and misconstructions that would, and, does make those denials of this single commandment visible to any willing to open their eyes and see, open their ears and hear.

He gave the disciples, and through them, all who would accept this singular commandment, warning of how that commandment would be accepted throughout his ministry, stressing always the concept of that commandment even before its having been openly and plainly delivered to them.

Sadly, there has been no change to that reception by the world at large, nor will there be reception by any who continue in the deviation and deception that is paramount in the hearts of those blindly following a path chosen without regard to the very purpose of His ministry, His sacrifice, and His resurrection.

Men continue to judge one another without regard to that commandment, in so doing placing themselves in position of power not held by them, held only by God... the only Righteous and Worthy Judge who WILL judge ALL.

The Commandment left us by our Savior remains in effect, without change, irrefutable as the message brought by Him that alone makes it possible to follow that commandment:

"REPENT! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

The more loudly, more violently that message is rejected, the more distant from the commandment remains the hearts of those hearing neither of them.

Evil will never cast out evil. Hatred will never give proof of love. 

Evil will never triumph in the heart of those holding that love, and may never defeat that love itself.

Romans 12:21 ²¹
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Paul's words echo that commandment given by Christ, not only in a time in which he faced tribulation and persecution, but in a time when that same tribulation and persecution manifests itself more readily, and  more apparently than ever seen... a time prophesied by Christ Jesus that heralds the final vanquishment and banishment of all that stands in denial of both message and commandment brought by Him.

Revelation 22:11
¹¹He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

What has been accepted... or rejected by men is recognized by God, without equivocation.

The proof is indeed in the pudding!

2 Timothy 1:12

¹²For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer