The Study Watchtower, "Article 14", Week of May 29 to June 4, 2023, "In this way everyone will know that you are my disciples", Answers.

The Study Watchtower, «Article 14», 29-May-4-June 2023, “In this way everyone will know that you are my disciples”, Answers.

"In this way everyone will know that you are my disciples: if you have love for one another" (JOHN 13:35).

1. What strikes many when they first attend a meeting? (See also photo).

In the paragraph it is mentioned that many people are surprised to see how kind we were to receive them, and to contemplate the love with which we show ourselves to our brothers.

ILLUSTRATION

In the image we can see that a couple is visiting a Kingdom Hall for the first time, a brother greets them and welcomes them. Also, we see that the man's wife, with a certain timidity, is observing the atmosphere of friendship and harmony that exists in the congregation.

Brothers and sisters of different ages and cultures enjoy conversing before a congregation meeting. A brother welcomes a non-Witness couple. What do many people think when they see the love that is breathed in Jehovah's people? (See paragraph 1).

2. Why have some stopped serving Jehovah?

The reason is because they have allowed the imperfections of others to affect them, to the point of stopping serving Jehovah.

3. What identifies true Christians? (John 13:34, 35).

It is love, and it is interesting that Jesus said that, "In this way everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." So Jesus made it clear that his disciples and others recognized true Christians by the sincere love they would show one another, not by being perfect.

4. What might some ask?

Some may ask these questions. Why is love what identifies true Christians? How did Jesus show love to his apostles? And how to imitate Jesus?

WHY IS LOVE WHAT IDENTIFIES TRUE CHRISTIANS?

5. What kind of love is Jesus talking about in John 15:12, 13?

It is self-sacrificing love, this kind of love prompts us to give our lives for other people and is a hallmark that identifies us as true Christians. In fact, Jesus, with his life and death, exemplifies this kind of love. Also, as the book says, “Come, be my follower”, Mutual love must be so evident that people who observe us can “Distinguish” us as the true followers of Christ. Therefore, each one must ask himself: "Is it clearly seen in my life that I wear the badge of self-sacrificing love?"

6. How does God's Word highlight the importance of love?

For example, 1 John 4:8, says that "God is love", in Matthew 22:39, encourages us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, in 1 Peter 4:8, mentions that "Love covers a multitude of sins," and 1 Corinthians 13:8 says that "Love never fails." Therefore, these verses and others highlight how important it is to cultivate and demonstrate the extraordinary quality that is love.

7. Why can't Satan get people to come together and show love to each other?

Because he did not give rise to the quality of love, therefore, he cannot create a worldwide family of Christians that shows itself in this quality, what Satan has done is create many false religions, and that has confused people. Instead, Jehovah is love, so that only those who do not know have his spirit and blessing and can truly love each other.

8, 9. How has the love Jehovah's Witnesses have had on many people?

The effect they have had is positive, because they have been able to identify the true Christians: they have verified the sincere love that we show each other. For example, a brother named Ian recalls that at the first assembly he attended, "What struck him the most was that everyone seemed happy and at peace. He said he did not remember any of the talks that were given, but that it was recorded on in his memory the conduct of the Witnesses, the kindness and good behavior they showed at that assembly.” That behavior that he saw is the result of the sincere love we have for each other.

Also, a brother named John says that he was impressed when he first went to a Kingdom hall. He was struck by the sincere love that he saw between the brothers, and this convinced him that it was the true religion.

10. What occasions will test our love? (See also note.)

Our love will be tested when some of our brothers say or do something that offends us, James 3:2 says that "We all stumble many times, so due to our imperfection there will be times when we are offended, but the important thing it is that we are encouraged to react in the right way, with love.

The note clarifies that "Offenses" does not refer to serious sins such as those mentioned in Corinthians 6:9,10, if that were the case, the elders must attend to those cases.

HOW DID JESUS ​​SHOW THAT HE LOVED HIS APOSTLES?

11. What did James and John demonstrate on a certain occasion? (See also pictures).

The apostles, James and John, showed that they were proud and ambitious, they asked their mother to speak with Jesus to give them important positions in the Kingdom. In the image of the circle we can see precisely that, she is asking Jesus to allow them to sit one on the right and the other on the left.

12. Why do we know that Santiago and Juan were not the only ones who had a bad attitude?

Because in Matthew 20:24, it says that when the other days found out about this, they were outraged with the two brothers. Surely they, too, reasoned that they were entitled to a good position for having worked hard alongside Jesus. As seen in the image, this situation caused a tense atmosphere between them, their faces and gestures show annoyance, so far from showing affection, they were angry and indignant.

13. How did Jesus treat the apostles despite their imperfections? (Matthew 20:25-28).

Jesus was not indignant with them, nor did he ask his father to replace them with more humble men, rather, with patience and love, he reasoned with them because he knew they had a good heart.

ILLUSTRATION

Jesus speaks lovingly to his disciples. In a circle appear Santiago, Juan and their mother talking with Jesus. Jesus showed his apostles love even when they made mistakes. (See paragraphs 11 to 13).

14. What was the environment like in which the apostles of Jesus grew up?

The apostles grew up in a time where religious leaders placed great importance on social position and positions of authority. Therefore, Jesus knew that this could also influence them, in the way they saw themselves and how they saw others. So, he took this into account and so with a lot of patience he helped us to replace pride and ambition with humility and love.

HOW CAN WE IMITATE JESUS?

15. What do we learn from what happened with James and John?

We learn that when unpleasant situations arise, we must not only try to see the mistakes that others make, but also to see how we react to them. In the paragraph we are encouraged to ask ourselves some questions, the purpose is to help us to conclude that the best thing is: to know how to forgive and continue to treat ourselves with love, because that way we will show that we are true Christians.

16. What else can we learn from Jesus' example?

Jesus could read hearts, so he understood why the apostles acted in a certain way. On the other hand, we cannot read hearts, so we must strive to understand our brothers, but that requires that we get to know them better.

17. What happened when a circuit overseer tried to get to know a brother better?

The superintendent says that when he tried to get to know a brother who had a difficult personality better, he realized how intense this brother's life had been, he understood that he had struggled to overcome the past and progressed, so that , getting to know him better, changed his opinion, admired him and even became friends with him. This example shows us that if we do not make an effort to get to know and understand our brothers better, it will be easier to treat them with love.

18. What questions can we ask ourselves if a brother has offended us? (Proverbs 26:20).

The questions are: "Do I have all the facts?" Could it be that he did it by accident? I did something similar in the past. If I talk to him brother, I'll create a bigger problem than the one I'm trying to solve. We should spend time thinking about these questions, as we may come to the conclusion that it is better to show love and forget about it.

In proverbs 26:20 we read: That where there is no firewood, the fire goes out, and where there is no slanderer, the fight ends, so the Bible urges us to seek peace daily to avoid possible fights, because the exchanges of exalted words usually lead to violent fights, So in conclusion it is better to forget the matter and show love that will make the fire go out immediately.

19. What are we determined to do?

We are determined to continue to show the kind of love that identifies true Christians. We want people to realize that we are in the true religion, and join us in worshiping Jehovah.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

Why is love what identifies true Christians?

Because Jesus himself said that love would be the hallmark of true Christians. This love makes a Christian willing to die for his brother, what's more, Jesus with his life and death exemplifies this kind of love. Therefore, we should ask ourselves: Does my life show that I have this kind of love, and is it so evident that the people who observe me distinguish me as a true follower of Christ?

How did Jesus show that he loved his apostles?

For example, on the occasion, in which the mother of James and John, asked Jesus to give her children an important position in the Kingdom, and later, the other 10 apostles found out and were outraged, Jesus did not ask his father who will replace him with men who were more humble, rather with patience and love resonated with them, because he knew they had a good heart. In addition, Jesus took into account the environment in which the apostles were raised, therefore, he understood them and helped them replace pride and ambition with humility and love.

How can we imitate Jesus?

In imitation of Jesus, when problems or unpleasant situations arise, we should not only try to see the mistakes that others make, but also to see how we react to them. We are encouraged to treat each other with love, to know how to forgive, because that is how we show that we are true Christians. Also, we imitate Jesus by striving to know and understand our brothers, if we do, it will be easier to treat us with love, just as Jehovah and Jesus want us to do.