By George A. Barlow, Jr.
I remember hearing this story about a volunteer who worked at a hospital who got to know a little girl who was suffering from a rare blood disease. She needed to have a blood transfusion in order to survive. Her little brother was a match. The doctors explained the situation to the little brother and ask the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.
After a brief hesitation, the little boy took a deep breath and said, “Yes, I’ll do whatever it will take if it means saving her life.” As the blood transfusion took place, he laid in bed next to his sister holding here hand. As he was holding his sisters hand, he ask the doctor, “Will I start to die right away?” The little boy didn’t understand. He thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her life.
Jesus gave His life on Calvary to save a sinner like me! Before the Passover feast Jesus knew his time had come and in John chapter 12:23 (NIV) Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified.” At the beginning of John chapter 13 we see where Jesus showed His disciples the extent of His love by washing their feet. He served with care, humility, and selflessness.
Before Christ died he left all of us a very crucial message. He said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” John 13:34 (NIV).
One of the Greek words for love the Bible speaks of is “Philia,” which is translated “brotherly love.” Philia is the type of love that David and Johnathan had for each other. They had a true friendship that represented sacrifice for one another (do unto others as you would like done unto you), loyalty, and they defended each other. Lack of Philia love is why relationships fail and churches divide. As humans it’s so easy to find fault in other people, however, we should be motivated by our love for God, not by selfish desires. The sinful nature of man wants his way no matter who it hurts.
Johnathan and David didn’t point fingers at one another and try to prove the other wrong. They protected one another. John 15:13 (NIV) says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
I would like to encourage everyone individually to look inward and to do a self-assessment and see where your heart, motivations and desires rest.
As Christians, if we can display the type of love God would have us to be, we will live out His desire and His new command, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” John 13:35 (NIV).
