One survivor said, “Only God’s love can do this; We share the same Savior and now the same future.”
“We chose forgiveness not because they deserved it, but because Christ forgave us.”
God’s Supernatural Love is In Us Waiting to Come Out of Us
1 John 4:7 Dearfriends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. New Living Translation
Romans 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God hasbeen poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. New King James Version
Agapé is supernatural and only comes from God. It is the highest, purest, and most selfless love in the universe. It is an unconditional, sacrificial, and spiritual substance. It doesn’t respond, it initiates and pours itself out on both the undeserving and deserving.
At the Last Supper Jesus Taught Us and Showed Us What It Looks Like to Love One Another
The Passover Meal begins (Matthew 26:20). They dispute over who is the greatest (Luke 22:24–27). Jesus washes the disciples’ feet (John13:1–17). Jesus predicts His betrayal and Judas departs (John 13:18-30). The institution of the Lord’s Supper [Holy Communion] (Matthew 26:26–29). Then Jesus predicts Peter’s denial (Matthew 26:31). The upper room discourse [the new command to love like Jesus, promise of the Holy Spirit, etc.] (John 13:31–16:33).
Luke 22:24 Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. New Living Translation
Luke 22:25 Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ New Living Translation
Luke 22:26 But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. New Living Translation
After Teaching Us How to Love Like God Does, Jesus Shows Us by the Washing of His Disciples Feet
John 13:3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. New Living Translation
John 13:12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. New Living Translation
John 13:14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. … 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. New Living Translation
John 13:34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. New Living Translation
John 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, ifyou have love for one another.” New King James Version
Colossians 3:13 Bear with (Greek: endure, put up with) each other and forgive one another ifany of you has a grievance (Greek: offense, quarrel,complaint) against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. New International Version
Ephesians 4:15 …but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— … New King James Version