“The password is incorrect.  Try again.”

Many of us have seen this message or a similar one as we have incorrectly entered a password for access to a computer or perhaps a site on the internet. 

A young man comes to Jesus thinking he has the correct ‘password’ for living a life that pleases God. He is a respected scholar, holding a prominent position in society, applauded by others with the ‘rule’ by which he regulates his life. His “I” rules and “me” formulas are also used to regulate the behaviours of others.  Wanting to be correct, in all things, even in response to this new teacher on the block, Jesus, he comes to Jesus. Conversing with Jesus, he asks about the way he should live to please God.  He hears a known response, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).

We can almost see his head held high, even a smug smile, as he presses the conversation looking for affirmation from Jesus that he has done this.  He assumes he has the password for life correct and to further prove himself correct asks, “Who is my neighbour?” (29). He is given a surprising answer. Jesus, shares a story and through it is telling him to, “Try again.” The love of neighbour has a category of neighbour that this prominent man would never consider.  The young man thinks that his neighbours are those who live as he does, believe what he believes, and have a culture that is familiar to his own.  It is those people he is ready to love with outward behaviours that come from a list of checked, appropriate, regulated actions.

After sharing the story, known as ‘The Good Samaritan’ (Luke 10:30-36), which speaks of a shocking contrast of loving neighbour, Jesus says to the proud man, “Go and do likewise” (37). Go, and love in the way which I have just told you. Jesus says the same to all of us. Wesley (1703-1791) expresses this thought well.

“Let us go and do likewise, regarding every man as our neighbour who needs our assistance. Let us renounce that bigotry and party zeal which would contract our hearts into an insensibility for all the human race, but a small number whose sentiments and practices are so much our own, that our love to them is but self love reflected.”

To love our neighbour requires that we first love God.  Jesus said that the second commandment is like the first commandment because it depends on it.  “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son…” (1 John 4:7-11).

The password for living a life that pleases God is “Jesus Christ”. There is no password that begins with ‘I” or includes “me.” If we attempt this, we will hear the gracious words, “Through me, ‘Try again.’” When we get the password correct, we find that the love of God ‘regulates our senses’ (Calvin). Amen, and thank you God!

624: Teach Me How To Love Thee

Teach me how to love Thee,
Teach me how to pray,
Teach me how to serve Thee
Better every day;
Teach me how to serve Thee
Better every day

Jesus Christ, we confess that we do not always love our neighbour as you have taught us. Transform us from within, by your Spirit.  May your love deepen and widen our responses of love. We pray for our world where conflict needs to see your love in action.  Come Lord Jesus.  AMEN