11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers,[a] that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 3:11-18, ESV
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
It seems strange to have so much talk about murder within a section that is all about love. But when a word like love can be misunderstood, I appreciate the clear opposite example of murder. The act of murder is not easily argued: one’s life was ended by another person outside of their control or desire. It’s a very black and white issue that one could easily connect as the extreme opposite of love.
The Apostle John introduces this contrast at the onset. He reminds the church to remember what they learned at the beginning from Jesus. In his gospel, more details are given. John 13:34 and 15:12 both tell of Jesus commanding His disciples to love one another as He loved them. We get this reminder, and then the epistle goes on in verse 12, telling of another beginning. The first generation of children who ever existed murdered one another instead of loving one another. Talk about being honest and raw. John is not pulling any punches. He wants us to KNOW what love is and not have any misconceptions. John says the character of the brothers Cain and Able were demonstrated in their deeds, one being evil and one being righteous.
The words we say are important, but when expressing love, words pale in the shadow of our deeds and truth. Abusers say they love the person they are abusing. Their words have no weight because their actions contradict their talk. The same is true on a more everyday scale when we say what we hope to do to help someone in need. We’ll get recognition for what we said and never put our hopes into action. They remain dead as words. Instead, do the action first without speaking about it beforehand.
Our love as followers of Jesus is sacrificial, generous, and ultimately expressed through our actions.