Does Love Really Hurt (From Our 11-18-26 Worship)

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/nLSwWiVGIv4

Introduction: The "Anti-Love" Song

• The Hook: The speaker references the song "Love Hurts" (famously covered by Nazareth in 1975).

• The Lyrics: Quotes the cynical lyrics: "Love is just a lie made to make you blue... Love hurts."
  
  
• The Rebuttal: The speaker validates the feeling—pain is often tied to love—but rejects the song’s conclusion.
  • If love were truly bad, the solution would be to build walls and never connect with anyone.

  • The Truth: We cannot do that because we are designed to crave love; we need it more than air.

• The Goal: Since there is no "magic wand" to remove pain, the speaker aims to make sense of it. Pain is not needless torture; it is the price of something crucial.

I. Pain is a Signal of Love (Jesus at Lazarus’ Tomb)

• Scripture: John 11:32-36
  
  
• The Scene: Jesus arrives at the funeral of Lazarus. Despite knowing He would raise him, Jesus weeps ("Jesus wept" - v.35).

• The Observation: The Jews watching didn't just see tears; they saw the relationship behind them.
  • Verse 36: "See how he loved him!"
    
    
• The Connection: The depth of our grief is directly tied to the depth of our love.
  • We do not grieve for strangers because we do not have a relationship with them.

  • Key Takeaway: Pain is not worthless; it is a signal of the love we had and still have. Love does not disappear when a life ends.

II. The Value Added by Love (The Death of Dorcas)

• Scripture: Acts 9:36-39
  
  
• The Scene: Peter arrives after the death of Dorcas (Tabitha). The widows surround him, weeping and holding up the tunics and garments she had made.

• The Symbolism: Why show the clothes?
  • It wasn't about the monetary value (e.g., a $20 coat).

  • It was about the investment. The clothes represented Dorcas’s time, talent, and care.

• The Connection: Love hurts because we recognize the immense value that person added to our lives.
  • Reference to 1 John 4:16: God is love, and because we are made in His image, love adds essential value to our existence.

III. The Pain of Lost Opportunity (Paul and the Ephesian Elders)

• Scripture: Acts 20:35-38
  
  
• The Scene: Paul says his final goodbye to the Ephesian elders before boarding a ship.

• The Sorrow: The group weeps and embraces Paul.

• The Root of Pain: The text notes they sorrowed "most of all" because they would "not see his face again."
  
  
• The Connection: A major part of grief is the realization that we lose the earthly opportunity to give and receive love from that person.

Conclusion: Love Gives Even When It Hurts

• The Trade-off: To remove the pain, you would have to remove the love. The speaker concludes that the love is worth the pain.

• The Ultimate Example: John 15:12-14
  
  
  • "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."
    
    
• Final Charge:
  
  
  • Jesus demonstrated that love gives even when it causes pain (laying down His life).

  • Call to Action: We cannot quit loving. Even in grief, we must continue to love one another.

  • Invitation: An offer for prayer, support in the "Shepherd's Room," or simply finding comfort in the community.