A LEGEND FROM THE TIME OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH relates that the Apostle John, well into his 90s, announced that he would give a public speech. We can imagine the stir that must have taken place among those early followers to actually have the opportunity to hear from the last surviving apostle and learn directly from him. The legend says that people came from far and wide, experiencing great hardship, to make this journey to hear John speak.
When the moment of the talk finally came, the aged John was led to the front of the large crowd, who waited with anticipation for the teachings he would deliver. John paused for a moment. Then he uttered only three words: "Love one another." That was all. Then he left the startled crowd to ponder this message.
Well, you can imagine that some folks were pretty ticked off! They had sacrificed, they traveled, and they expected to hear some lengthy discourse that would last well into the night. What a letdown. Surely love one another was a message they'd heard before.
