Little children, love one another.
My father, a retired Lutheran pastor, loves to tell this story—often through tears. I am proud to repeat it.
John, the disciple whom Jesus loved and the great gospel writer and visionary, didn’t have an easy life, but he lived to be quite old. In his later years, he was the sole survivor of the original Twelve.
He was treated with great respect as he grew infirm. The early Christians would carry him into worship and seat him in a position of honor. The Christian community hung on every word he could share with them. After all, he actually knew Christ. He had stood at the foot of the cross.
One day, as a very feeble John was brought into the gathering of early Christians, the people asked him for advice and guidance.
“What would Jesus say?” they asked him.
John answered, “Little children, love one another.”
The people pressed on. “Really, most respected John, what would Jesus say? Tell us more. Please.”
They asked over and over and John had only one answer.
“Little children, love one another.”
That’s all folks. The Gospel in a nutshell.
John had spent some 50 years writing and preaching. In the end, the gospel message is five little words.
Little children, love one another.