John 3:16-17
God LOVES the World
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 22:36-40
Two Greatest Commandments
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Luke 10:25-37
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Together and united...I might use these words together and united as a theme and teaching that Jesus uses in many of His parables...It seems in His Kingdom He wants us everyone to live together and be united...And we should be united by our Father... I truly believe that God's Kingdom is perfectly together and united...I believe that Jesus has this theme in many of His teachings, and tries to convey the together and united idea over and over, while we are here and live on earth...
The question that comes to my mind, in the context of what Jesus teaches us, is can we be together, without knowing each other?...Can mankind be united in God, without knowing something about each other?...I might say, I cannot possibly get to know every neighbor...I might say, I do not want to get to know certain neighbors...I might also think, it is very hard to be together and be united with everyone...But as I say and think these things, I must remember He tells me to love my neighbor...I am also taught to love my enemies...
When we think of why God sent His Son to earth to teach us, we can think of many reasons, why God sent Him...God's LOVE comes first to mind...LOVE, God's LOVE is completely unselfish...And Jesus is the most unselfish One...He gives His life on the cross for each of us and for mankind's sins...He did not sin...He was constantly visiting and teaching outcasts about His Father...He never ignored anyone, regardless of who they were, their reputation, how poor they were, or how they felt or healthy they were...Always healing, always helping...He shares His life for us and with us...He wants us to love God and to love our neighbors...He teaches us not only about eternal life, but He teaches us about our current lives...How He lived on earth and how we live, in comparison, should be looked at and reflected upon, when we think about God and neighbor...One of the reasons, it seems to me that Jesus came, was to bring man and mankind together...Knowing God and knowing neighbor is very important to Jesus...Can we really love God or love our neighbor, if we never get to know them?...Can we really have mercy on people we do not know?...Can't we easier pass by on the other side, when we do not know that neighbor or person...A solitary life and living a life without sharing it with others, was not in His teachings...God and neighbor was always in -maybe all His teachings...He wants us close to both -God and neighbor...And if you do not believe that Jesus wants us to be together and get to know all as neighbors in life, He certainly teaches us that we are not to ignore our neighbors...