18 May 2025, Acts 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35, New Life, New Love, New Creation—As I Have Loved You: The New Commandment and a New World

But Jesus says, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Good morning! It’s chilly out there! I hope you’re all staying warm during these cold days. Please pass the peace around you.

Mondays are usually my planning day. I choose the Bible passage and songs for Sunday, then get in touch with the worship leader. By Wednesday, I usually have a draft outline of the sermon in mind. That’s my usual routine.

Last week, however, I was completely stuck. By Wednesday afternoon, I had a theme, but I just wasn’t feeling inspired. I was starting to feel more and more stressed. It was quite frustrating. That afternoon, I went to Norwood with my family to watch a movie—a plan we had made a few weeks ago. I prayed, “God, please give me a good idea or some inspiration while watching this movie.” I guess you could call it an occupational hazard!

It was a Christian film called King of Kings. Have any of you seen it? Even though it’s an animated movie, it’s surprisingly moving—not just for kids, but for adults too. It beautifully tells the story of Jesus’ life in a genuine and faithful way, without exaggeration, staying true to the Bible. We all loved it! I think you’d love it too.

Here’s an idea: why not gift tickets to your kids or grandkids? It’s a great way to introduce them to Jesus in a way that’s both simple and engaging. You never know, it might just make a difference in their lives!

The movie was supposed to start at 4:30 p.m., so I went to the counter and said, “One family ticket for the 4:30 showing of King of Kings, please.” After getting the tickets, we grabbed some burgers for an early dinner. Life was good.

When it was time, we headed to Cinema 5 with excitement. As we took our seats, the trailers were already playing. It was an Asian movie, probably in Chinese, with English subtitles. I thought, “Okay, just a trailer. No big deal.” But it kept going. And going. You know how trailers usually last about two minutes? Well, this one seemed to go on forever.

I started to get that sinking feeling. I double-checked our cinema number—yep, Cinema 5. Maybe it was just an unusually long preview?

Nope. It wasn’t a trailer. It was the actual movie! What’s going on?

Eventually, I pulled out my phone, switched on the light, and checked the ticket. And guess what? The ticket was wrong. The staff at the counter had given me a ticket for the Chinese movie!

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I went back to the counter to exchange the ticket. The staff member looked at the ticket, looked at me, then said, “Oh! Sorry about that. King of Kings is actually in Cinema 6.”

Ah. Mystery solved. The Chinese movie had started at 3:30. No wonder people were giving us weird looks!

As we walked to the correct cinema, it hit me: the staff member probably made a quick assumption. I look Asian, I have a bit of an accent… so maybe they just guessed that I wanted to see the Chinese movie. I’m not saying there was any bad intention or rudeness involved—just an automatic reaction.

And honestly, I get it. Our brains naturally make quick judgments without us even noticing. I might have done the same if I were in their shoes.

But here’s the insight: small, everyday biases, if left unchecked, can actually narrow our perspective on the world and others. The same goes for our faith. Sometimes, our fixed religious ideas can block our understanding of God and hinder us from truly connecting with others. Just like that movie mix-up, our minds often categorize things automatically. If we’re not mindful, these mental shortcuts can limit how we see the world, understand God, and build relationships with those around us.

A powerful example of this is found in Acts chapter 11.

Peter, a devoted Jewish Christian, is accused by fellow Jewish believers. Why? Because he’s been hanging out with Gentiles and even eating with them! Back then, that was a huge deal both culturally and religiously. Sharing a meal wasn’t just about food. Gentiles didn’t follow Jewish customs, like circumcision and dietary laws. Mixing with them, especially eating with them, was seen as crossing a major line.

“Peter! What have you done? They are Gentiles, unclean!” They surrounded him, their faces full of discomfort and confusion.

Peter, calm but firm, responded, “Friends, I understand your concern. But please, hear my story.”

He began to explain, just as we read in today’s passage. During his prayer, Peter sees a huge sheet coming down from the sky, filled with all sorts of animals, animals that Jews considered unclean. Then a voice says, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

Peter is shocked and immediately refuses: “Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” But the voice from heaven speaks again: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

And it doesn’t just happen once it’s repeated three times! God really emphasizes this point. It’s like God is saying, “Peter, you need to get this.”

This repetition underlines how crucial this shift in understanding is. It’s not just a minor detail, it’s fundamental. Doesn’t that repetition make you think? It’s as if a complete reset is needed breaking down the deeply rooted walls in our minds.

After this great vision, some men show up at the door sent by Cornelius, a Gentile. Precisely at that moment, the Holy Spirit speaks to Peter: “Go with them, without hesitation.” So, even though Peter is still processing the vision, he obeys and goes to Cornelius’ house a Gentile’s house.

And what happens there? As Peter begins to speak, the Holy Spirit comes upon them! The whole household is filled with the Spirit—they start speaking in tongues and praising God! Just like the upper room on Pentecost!

Peter’s heart is overwhelmed. He realizes undeniably that God’s love and acceptance aren’t limited to just the Jews; it’s for everyone. This posed a massive challenge and introduced a new framework for the early church.

Even to the Gentiles, God has granted repentance. An utterly complete shift in understanding.

Just like the unconscious assumption made by the ticket counter staff, the early Jewish believers had deeply ingrained assumptions about who was “in” and who was “out” when it came to God’s plan. They believed that God’s grace and salvation were primarily for those within their own cultural and religious boundaries.

But this assumption was challenged and overturned. The core message here is about recognizing and challenging our own fixed ideas whether they come from our everyday lives or our spiritual ones. What was once understood as the God of a chosen few has now become the God of all humanity the God of you and me today.

But the newness doesn’t end there.

Jesus says, “I give you a new commandment: Love one another.”

We know this commandment well—it’s powerful. But here’s the interesting part: Jesus doesn’t say, “I give you an additional commandment” or “an updated commandment.” He says it’s entirely new.

So then, let me ask you: what was the old commandment? Yes, it was to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself.”

What is the difference between the new commandment and the old commandment?

The crucial difference the thing that sets it apart, is revolutionary. It’s a whole new standard, a benchmark of love.

The old way was, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” In other words, it was based on our own self-love, our own capacity, our own measure.

But Jesus says, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

That’s a completely different level, a new dimension of love. The standard is no longer human; it’s Christ’s own love. And that love is sacrificial, unconditional, and self-giving. It’s not just about being genuinely fair or nice; it’s much deeper and far more costly.

This kind of love demands more. It challenges us to embrace something new.

Now let’s take a look at Revelation 21. The hopeful words describe “a new heaven and a new earth.” Where is that place? It’s where God dwells with humanity, where there are no more tears, no more pain, and no more sorrow.

Yes, it’s heaven, the final destination of our journey. But don’t get it wrong.

The “new heaven and new earth” aren’t just about a place we go after we die. This new heaven and new earth actually start now and begin here—whenever we live out transformative, Christ-like love, whenever we break down those barriers between people like Peter did, and whenever we embrace each other with the love of the new commandment.

In doing so, we are, in a way, bringing that new heaven and new earth into the present. It’s not about just waiting for something to happen; it’s about actively participating in its arrival. It means turning a future hope into not just a destination but a way of life—here and now.

Years ago, after my surgery, our family went to Sydney. Because of the effects of the surgery, I had lost a lot of weight, and my physical appearance had changed. Whenever I met friends, they either didn’t recognize me at first or were a bit shocked by how different I looked.

They would say things like, “Wow, you look like a new person! Congrats, Dana! How does it feel to live with a younger, refreshed version of your husband?”

It was a common reaction, and they meant it positively. But as I reflected on it, I thought, “Yes, I may look different on the outside, but inside, my core self is still the same!”

My ongoing goal is to truly become a new person in Christ—to experience an internal transformation.

True newness isn’t just about outward change; it’s about inner transformation and embodying the values of the new heaven and new earth. It’s not just a one-time event—it’s a continuous process. It’s not just about knowing God; it’s about letting His grace shape us every moment of our lives.

And I want to emphasize this: we need a kind of regular reset.

Every Sunday is a little Easter. Actually, every day can be. Even though Easter Sunday has passed, we continue to live as “Easter people,” empowered by the resurrection every single day—week by week, day by day.

Christ is risen! How does this incredible news of the resurrection bring newness into our everyday lives?

So, as we come to the end, let’s take a moment to reflect.

How do we hold on to hope and renewal when life gets tough?

How do we practice that Jesus-style love, the kind that renews even when we’re facing conflict with our neighbours?

And how can we live as citizens of the new heaven and new earth amidst the chaos and rapid changes in our world?

Remember: new life breaking old boundaries, the new commandment of love given to us, and God’s promise of a new creation.

My prayer today is that this message brings renewal to you, personally, to our church, to our relationship with God, and to our relationships with one another.

These passages are more than just stories; they are an invitation to keep living the resurrection journey to embrace the transformative work God is doing in us and in the world.

May we keep moving forward as Easter peopl, living out that new life, loving as Christ loved us, and being part of God’s new creation, here and now.

Amen.