Not Move On But Move Forward

5.18.2025

5th Easter

[Texts]

Acts 11:1-18 Peter’s vision: God give the Gentiles repentance that leads to life

Psalm 148 The splendor of the Lord is over earth and heaven. (Ps. 148:13)

Revelation 21:1-6 New heaven, new earth: springs of living water in the new Jerusalem

John 13:31-35 Jesus gives a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you

Easter Blessings to you, my dear siblings in Christ,

Last Sunday, we were reminded of the oneness of Jesus and His heavenly Father in John 10. Today, in John 13, we hear the familiar teaching that we know by heart: "Love one another." 

Those of us who have walked the Christian path long enough immediately recognize the deep connection between these two scriptures, because without love, true unity in divinity and humanity would not be possible.

Jesus called this a new commandment. But what makes it new? At first glance, we see a distinction from Leviticus 19:18, which says, "Love your neighbor as yourself." The key difference is that Leviticus teaches love rooted in self-love, while Jesus introduces something greater in the New Testament: "As I have loved you."

This is not about loving others as we love ourselves; it is about loving as Jesus loves, with sacrificial, boundless love.

But let’s be honest, who among us can truly perfect Jesus’ love? Only Jesus possesses perfect, unconditional selflessness. Even St. Paul, one of the greatest missionaries and teachers, wrestled with this challenge. In Romans 7:15, he admitted: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do."

Such a high standard can feel impossible, even discouraging. Some walk away from the Christian community because they perceive hypocrisy, while others are consumed by shame, guilt, or anger. In their struggle, they miss something crucial. That is God’s grace.

Yesterday, at our Synod Assembly, Pastor Andy shared how listening to the song, "Don’t Worry, Be Happy" almost made him angry at one time. How can we not worry? The reality is that worry often cannot be avoided. It drives us to want to move on simply because we don't want to deal with it.

But moving on isn’t always the answer. Recently, while reading about anger, I came across a phrase that resonated: "We don’t move on; we move forward."

What’s the difference?

• Moving on suggests leaving something behind, closing a chapter, and detaching from it. It's like saying, "I need to move on from this breakup." It seems cleaner, but it can prevent real growth.

• Moving forward, on the other hand, means carrying lessons from the past while stepping into what’s ahead. It is like saying, "I’m moving forward with my new life after learning from past mistakes."

Moving on is like drawing a solid line between now and the past. Moving forward is like drawing a dotted line, one that allows room for growth.

Have you ever been told to move on when you weren’t ready? Or said it to someone else? As sinners, we cannot simply let go of our human imperfection, but we can move forward, growing and walking in God’s grace.

This reminds me of John 8:1-11, where the Pharisees were ready to stone a woman caught in adultery. Jesus told them: "Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone." One by one, her accusers left, and Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." This wasn’t merely an act of grace. It was an expectation.

Martin Luther famously wrote to Philip Melanchthon in 1521: "Sin boldly." He wasn’t encouraging recklessness. He was acknowledging reality: we are sinners. Instead of fearing failure, we are taught to put our full trust in Christ’s grace and forgiveness.

Jesus taught in Matthew 18:3, 19:14, Mark 10:15, and Luke 18:16 that we must be like children to enter God's kingdom. Children (infants or toddlers)…

• Know where trust lies.

• Have no agenda or filter.

• Forgive quickly.

• Imitate love and receive grace fast.

Have you ever noticed how Jesus calls His disciples 'Children' in John 13:33? It wasn’t just a passing word. He meant something deeply intentional. What does it mean for us to move forward as children of God? Let us picture a path without judgment as a dead end. If it were, we would have nowhere to go. But grace allows us to restart like splashing water on our face each morning, tracing the cross on our forehead, and remembering: It is a new day to move forward by God's grace.

The phrase "as I have loved you" was not just an inspiring slogan for Jews in the 1st century. It marked a turning point. They struggled to embody the Shema prayer. They wanted to obey the law, but they couldn’t just as we share the same struggles today.

When Jesus gave this commandment, He wasn’t just teaching a new high standard. He was shaping a new way of living, forming a new community, granting us a new identity. And that identity? It is the mark of Christ’s followers. It signifies transformation through moving forward. 

My Greek professor, Audrey West, beautifully captures this in Christian Century: "What is ‘new’ about the commandment to love one another is that our love is measured against the love Jesus has for everyone, rather than against our love for ourselves. Jesus said, ‘Love as I have loved you,’ Everything else flows from that. It’s not about who we love. It’s about how we love.”

John 13 is a powerful chapter. It sets the stage for Jesus’ final moments before His crucifixion. It is a moment of humility, servanthood, and love. And each of us has our own moments that reflect Jesus’ humility, servanthood, and love.

I invite you to reflect on the following questions and embrace your journey:

• Where have you found yourself wanting to move on in life?

• Where do you see opportunities for progress and growth as you move forward?

• In what areas do you reflect the love of Jesus to yourself and others?

The theme for this year’s Synod Assembly is Woven into God’s Story. To conclude, I want to share with you what Bishop Shelley wrote in her report:

"Just as individual pieces of fabric—each unique in color and texture—are sewn together to form a unified whole, so our lives, joined in Christ, become part of a larger divine design. Sometimes the stitches aren’t straight, sometimes the fabric is stained, and sometimes the threads begin to fray. Yet, in God’s hands, even the imperfect pieces are stitched together with grace, forming something beautiful. In a world that often feels fragmented, we are called together in Christ, to be a place of hope and connection. May we rejoice in God’s story, may we be swept up in the Spirit, and may we always be woven together in Christ—clothed in Christ—knowing we are beloved children of God."

Amen.