Nebraska Synod ELCA

by Pastor Daniel Wynard

During the final meal Jesus had with his disciples, he left behind many important truths and life lessons.  To be honest, it seems like he was cramming in everything he needed them to understand before time ran out.  There is just so much stuffed into one last meal together that it is easy for some of these lessons to be overlooked or overshadow by others. One of the most enduring lessons, however, are Jesus’ words “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (Jn. 13:34-35).” What is implied in this commandment is that our love is to be both visible and felt by everyone around us (even strangers and enemies). So much so that it becomes the label that people associate with us.

Few today would claim that Christ’s church in America is primarily know because of the way it demonstrates God’s love.  In fact, many of us lament that this label falls way down the list of common adjectives that non-believers use to describe the Christian church in America.  What can heartfelt followers of Christ do in such an environment?  Maybe we can begin by examining the ways we respond to people.  Our initial responses to people (both our words & our actions) often do more to communicate love than anything else. We all know that at times this can be both easy and challenging.  In a world that is more and more mired down in hate speech, polarizing viewpoints, deceptive propaganda, and the seemingly abandonment of vulnerable peoples by those in power (a world very similar to the environment Jesus was born into) it is ironic that one of the most compelling commands that Jesus left us is to respond to everyone – including your enemies – with love.

This is the very kind of love that people need to see and feel – unconditional and freely given.  In sowing the seeds of God’s love in our responses, we cultivate more love.  For God’s love is contagious.  It spreads and seeps into the very being of all of God’s creation and brings about change.  Alongside prayer, this kind of loving response to people who anger, frustrate, hurt, aggravate, insult, and demean us is one of the most powerful tools we have in our arsenal to change this world.

In a few weeks we will be celebrating Holy Week. This is when we walk with Jesus during the most difficult time of his life.  During Holy Week we attempt – in our own ways – to experience some of the pain, the heartache, and the rejection that Jesus felt.  We began this week celebrating the height of praise as Jesus entered Jerusalem.  We accompany Jesus from that mountain top experience to an emotional last meal and an intense time of prayer. This is the week when we stand witness to a tragic betrayal, devastating false accusations, and the horror of a mocking, torturous death.

We do this each and every year so that we can encounter Easter all over again.  So that the wonder, majesty, and power of Easter hope and forgiveness can once again revitalize our faith, renew our spirits, and help us to further embrace the new life that Jesus has gifted us. A new life where we are committed to taking this love and sharing it with everyone around us through word & deed.  It is our response and a beautiful way to cultivate God’s love.

Pastor Dan has been serving as a missionary and pastor in various churches, countries, and settings for the past 31 years. From 1992 till 2003 Dan lived in Russia, working as a missionary to help establish an indigenous Christian student movement, a theological institute for training future pastors, and a Bible education and faith development program for lay leaders. For the past 22 years, Dan has served as a pastor in ELCA congregations in Naperville, DeKalb, and Rockford Illinois.  Dan is currently serving as Pastor at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Omaha. Dan is married to Lucy – Senior Pastor of Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church. They have two children, ages 18 and 19.