War and peace – Day 4

Act of love

Se(di)ngolwa (t)sa Bibele

JOHANNE 15

₉“Jwalokaha Ntate a nthatile, le nna ke le ratile jwalo; dulang leratong la ka. ₁₀Ha le boloka ditaelo tsa ka, le tla dula leratong la ka, jwalokaha ke bolokile ditaelo tsa Ntate, mme ke dula leratong la hae.

₁₁“Ke buile ditaba tsena ho lona hore thabo ya ka e be ka ho lona, mme thabo ya lona e be e phethehileng. ₁₂Ena ke taelo ya ka, hore le ratane jwalokaha ke le ratile. ₁₃Ha ho ya nang le lerato le fetang lena, la hore motho a telle metswalle ya hae bophelo ba hae. ₁₄Lona le metswalle ya ka, ha le etsa seo ke le laelang sona. ₁₅Ha ke sa le bitsa bahlanka, hobane mohlanka ha a tsebe seo monga hae a se etsang, empa lona ke le bitsitse metswalle, hobane ke le tsebisitse tsohle tseo ke di utlwileng ho Ntate. ₁₆Hase lona le nkgethileng, empa ke nna ke le kgethileng, mme ke le beile hore le ye, le behe ditholwana, mme ditholwana tsa lona di dulele ruri, hore eng le eng eo le e kopang Ntate ka lebitso la ka, a le fe yona. ₁₇Seo ke le laelang sona, ke hore le ratane.”

JOHANNE 15:9-17SSO89SOBula ka mmadi wa Bibele

Jesus urges his disciples to imitate him in love. That could even lead to death, Jesus says in John 15:13. In the verses that follow, Jesus will therefore speak about his own suffering, as an inspiration for his disciples. Just as Jesus died on the cross, so his followers must suffer. Verse 13, which talks about giving your life for your friends, was used by loved ones of deceased soldiers to honour them. The text is often found on tombstones of soldiers who were killed during the First World War. Thus, verse 13 is used in a different context than in the Bible. For the bereaved, our loved ones gave their lives for their friends, just as Jesus says in John 15.

Today we would be less likely to connect war and love. Yet, the starting point of the next of kin and of Jesus, in John 15, is the same: the importance of acting out of love. Love should be your motivation. You should have so much love, that you are willing to give your life for the other.

If you live in South Africa at the present time, you may not easily find yourself in a situation where you can give your life for your friends. What else, then, could be your greatest act of love?

Mehlodi ya Bibele

Mabapi le Bibele (en)

Kakaretso ya Bibele (en)

App ya BibleSA (en)

Dibibele

Mabapi le rona (en)

Lebenkele la Bibele (en)

Bibele Letsatsi Le letsatsi

Mehlodi e meng ya Bibele

Ditaba tsa Bibele

Dipotso tsa Bibele (en)

Merero ya ho bala

Temana ka letsatsi

Mehlodi ya Kereke

Bukana ya Thuto ya Kereke (en)

Kemiso ya Dithero (en)

Moya wa Modimo dipakeng tsa maqephe (en)

Softwere ya tlhahiso (en)

Ditataiso tsa Mosebedisi

Mabapi le BibleSA (en)

FAQ (en)

War and peace – Day 4

Se(di)ngolwa (t)sa Bibele

JOHANNE 15