Propelling the Gospel
of Selfless Love
Orthodox tradition has it that Jesus was born on earth in order to die on the cross to accomplish a substitutionary atonement for humanity’s sin, and then be resurrected bodily from the dead, all of which would “take away the sin of the world.” But the blood of the Lamb didn’t take away the sin of the world. It doesn’t even take away the sin of individual, born-again believers.
Every individual believer is still torn by sin and tainted morally, not to mention the fact that the children of believers are still affected by original sin. (You would expect that a sinless believer would have sinless children if his spiritual “DNA” had truly been changed.) And, of course, sin has run rampant in the world since Jesus’ day, begetting every imaginable horror of inhumanity, over and over and over again.
So, if not to “take away the sin of the world,” why was Jesus to resurrect after his death? The so-simple answer is, to launch an evangelical, spirit-reviving, behavior-changing movement to make a Christ-like world. And how could this be done? First, by re-inspiring Jesus’ disciples, who were paralyzed with fear and despair after Jesus’ death.
Then, desiring to head them in the right direction, Jesus gave them the Great Commission: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, … teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). Teaching people in this way would be giving them the tools of love to change their lives and their souls, and put them on their way to becoming true citizens of the Kingdom.
John, in his Gospel, reports another version of the Great Commission, in which Jesus told His disciples, “[A]s the Father has sent me, I also send you” (John 20:21). In other words, just as Jesus was sent by God to cultivate in the people of the world the sin-dissolving love of God, so Jesus wanted His disciples to do.
The Bible teaches us that true, selfless love is the key to eroding the sinful nature. Jesus suggested the redemptive power of love in His Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40), and other scriptures do the same: “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8), “love covers all transgressions” (Proverbs 10:12), and “by lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for” (Proverbs 16:6).
Moreover, Jesus told the Apostle Peter three times (John 21:15-17) that, if he truly loved Him, he should “Tend my lambs,” “Shepherd my sheep,” and “Tend my sheep”—meaning he should minister to the people of the world, again in effect “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” And the core of what Jesus commanded His disciples was to love God, love others, be humble, shun hypocrisy, live prayerfully, and the like. This was the simple, unadorned, untheological Commission He gave His disciples around which His goal was to build the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, to the extent that it could be constructed without His physical leadership on earth.
How This Helps Us Have a Real Relationship With the Real Jesus
When we understand that the purpose of Jesus’ resurrection wasn’t just to launch a new denomination but was rather part of a last-ditch effort to build the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, we get a new reason for living our own lives and a new way of being in sync with Jesus.
That is, we understand that, to be truly in sync with Jesus, we must be part of his grand plan of Kingdom-building. We must live our lives in such a way that we radiate love, teach love, be love—and inspire other people to join this process.
Spiritual Exercises
Find a quiet place for prayer and reflection.
● Imagine yourself to be one of the eleven disciples at the mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16), where Jesus appeared to them after the resurrection to deliver His Great Commission. Imagine what it would mean for you to shoulder the responsibility of “teaching [all the world] to observe all that [Jesus] commanded you.” Imagine yourself in the same position today and what you might do to carry out the Great Commission.
● Reflect on how your daily choices align with the values of the Kingdom of God—especially all the aspects of true love, such as selflessness, patience, generosity, and purity. Spend time each day considering how your actions, thoughts, and words contribute to building a more empathetic and loving world. Ask yourself: Does this choice reflect the values of love, compassion, and service that Jesus embodied? Make adjustments to your behavior to better align with the Kingdom principles.
● Imagine yourself as Simon Peter, among the seven disciples eating a grilled-fish-and-bread breakfast with Jesus on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (Tiberias) after His resurrection. Imagine taking on yourself the responsibility to “Tend my lambs” and sheep all over the world. Then consider specific ways you can express your love for God and others through acts of service and through gathering like-minded, Kingdom-building people to search for and discover the Returning Lord in these “last days.” In addition, set a goal to consistently engage in acts of love and compassion, allowing your faith to be expressed in tangible ways.