There is a traditional story about the Apostle John, recorded by the early father Jerome, regarding the end of his life, where he lived and worshiped with the church in Ephesus.
It is said that the brothers in the church would carry him into the assembly, for he was unable to walk. He could also barely talk, and when he did speak, he would always utter this simple exhortation: “Little children, love one another.” After a while, some of the men in the church became annoyed with this repetition and finally asked him in frustration, “Teacher, why do you always say this?”And he replied with a line worthy of John as we know his teaching in Scripture, “Because it is the Lord’s commandment and if it alone is kept, it is sufficient.”1
One reason it is so wonderful to partake of the Lord’s Supper weekly is that not only is our love for one another strengthened by the Spirit in this meal, but we are also given a tangible reminder of God’s love for us. For as the Apostle John wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 Jn. 4:7–9).
So with love for God and one another—Come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.
This communion meditation was given on August 24, AD 2025 at King’s Cross Church in Moscow, Idaho.
Jerome, Comm. in ep. ad. Gal., 6:10.