Grace Notes 2025-05-21

If someone says of the Christian Faith that it all boils down to love they are not mistaken. But if we think we know what this love is and believe that we are capable of exercising it on our own steam we are sadly mistaken.

Indeed, our Lord Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another” (Jn. 13:34). But the sentence doesn’t end there. It goes on, “as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” This provides an important clue as to what kind of love this is. And accordingly, there are no shortcuts in learning who Jesus is, and how He demonstrated His love in what He taught and did. We learn this from the Scriptures.

What we call love is usually directed at selfish ends. It seldom contains the notion of sacrifice. And it lacks willing the good of the other, rather it is often content with just making the other feel better.

We are taught in God’s Word that Christ’s love for us renews us. It also empowers us to be able to love like He loves. It is, as taught in the bible, that “We love because He first loved us” (1Jn. 4:19).

The Ten Commandments express God’s good will. They are what is expected of us. Jesus taught that the ten could be summarized by two. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. … [and] You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt. 22:37-38; cf. Dt. 6:4-5; Le 19:18).

And yes, the ten can be summarized by the two, but the two don’t replace them. That idea is a neat trick tried by those who try to sidestep them. But that’s not the way it works. As we look out for the welfare of other members of Christ’s body, we also demonstrate our fear, love and trust of Christ, the head of His body. The Commandments teach us what is in the true best interest of our neighbor.

Since You Asked

What is the significance of The Ascension Day Commemoration?

Forty days following Easter the Resurrected Christ ascended to heaven, where as we confess in the Creed, he is seated at the right hand of the Father. The account of the ascension of our Lord occurs in both Luke 24:50-51 and Acts 1:9-11. As described in these passages Jesus led his disciples up Mount Olivet near Jerusalem where suddenly they witnessed his being elevated up into the sky until a cloud took him away from their sight. This signified his return to heaven where, as we confess in the Creed, he is seated at the right hand of the Father. This enthronement is a description of the all-inclusive authority he is given by the Father. Christ’s going away necessarily preceded his promised sending of the Holy Spirit. Other hints at the significance of his ascension have to do with his promise to go and prepare a place for his followers to be with him, and to serve as a High Priest interceding for his Church.