The Greatest Love of the Messiah

Dr. Ki Hoon Kim, FFWPU North America Continental Chairman, delivered the following sermon, titled “The Greatest Love of the Messiah,” on Easter Sunday—March 27, 2016—at the Chicago Family Church.

The Greatest Work of Jesus

I’d like to share today, on Easter Sunday, about remembering Jesus 2,000 years ago. Not only remembering, but how to inherit the spirit of Jesus’s sacrificial love, and the message that True Father and True Mother really wanted to deliver 40 years ago at Yankee Stadium and the Washington Monument.

Today we celebrate Easter Sunday. We say, “Happy Easter.” I looked up why we don’t say, “Happy Good Friday.” In fact, some people do, yet some are very reluctant to say the word, “Happy” on this occasion; why are we so happy when Jesus, the only Begotten Son, was crucified?

Three days later, he was resurrected, and we call this Easter Sunday, “Happy Easter.” Over the past 2,000 years, we have believed in Jesus as our Savior, not only for forgiveness. What is Christianity saying? We are saved, not just forgiven. You are saved as you believe in him as God’s son. This is the greatest work of Jesus, 2,000 years ago. It was with this spirit Christianity began 2,000 years ago.

Understanding God’s 6,000-Year Providence

He who believes in me shall be saved. Who can do that? No one can do that without God’s blessing, without God’s authority. This is the power of Jesus. This is the power of the 2,000-year history of Christianity. We all remember where Jesus was crucified 2,000 years ago. Where? You know the place. Golgotha.

When True Father was 15, he first encountered the spirit of Jesus. Do you know that mountain’s name? Everybody knows where Jesus was crucified 2,000 years ago, but do you know when Jesus’s mission carried over to True Father, what was that mountain’s name?

God created human beings. Historians trace our origin over 6,000 years. I really want to remember all of God’s providence, for all these 6,000 years, and Jesus 2,000 years ago, and today, we have the Second Coming Messiah, True Parents. How much do we understand True Parents and their accomplishments and their teachings?

Today my sermon title is, “The Greatest Love of the Messiah.” What is the greatest love? We know the greatest commandment. That is our mission. That is the commission we got from our Heavenly Parent and Jesus. What is the greatest love of the Messiah?

The greatest teaching and greatest love is knowing who are the Second Coming Messiah. I believe True Parents and Jesus teach the same thing about the greatest love: loving our Heavenly Parent, God. This is first the commandment.

We believe in True Father and True Mother. If we go back to True Parents’ message in 1965 and 1992, True Father shared about a lot of things as the Second Coming Messiah, together with True Mother.

Waking Up Christianity

The land of Europe today was formed by Christianity, but speaking of God and Jesus is no longer popular. This is not only a problem in Great Britain; there are so many European nations struggling in spirit and struggling physically as well. Not many people are going to church. We are facing this kind of situation after 2,000 years of Christianity.

What did True Parents do in 1965, 1973 and 1976? The Yankee Stadium and Washington Monument Rallies, where he delivered a warning message to America and the American people, and new hope for Christianity.

This year is the 40-year anniversary of the Yankee Stadium and Washington Monument Rally. It was the first time ever that True Parents saw 100,000 people at the Washington Monument, and over 30,000 people at Yankee Stadium. Raise your hand if you participated in both events? Let’s give them big hand.

Do you remember the title of True Father’s message at Yankee Stadium and the Washington Monument? America is God’s Hope at Yankee Stadium. How about Washington Monument rally? America and God’s Will.

Why are we confused? 2,000 years ago, why were they confused? The disciples didn’t know about Jesus well. This is the first cause for Jesus going to cross. True Father mentioned that had even one disciple understood Jesus, he would not have been crucified. Why, still today, are people confused? Because they don’t know God’s will. They don’t know about True Parents.

America is God’s Hope

In the Cheon Seong Gyeong, the original title of True Father’s Yankee Stadium message is, 미국은 하나님의 소망 (Migukeun Hananimae Sohmang). This means, “America is God’s Hope”. Not the mistranslated “God’s Hope for America”, but “America is God’s Hope”. The meaning is different. The original title more clear to me.

Do you see any similarity between the two titles of his messages? One is “America is God’s Hope”, the other one is “America and God’s Will”. America must be what God hopes for it to be. True Father really wants America to be a product of 2,000 years Christianity, and for America, after 2,000 years, to carry out God’s will. This is his message.

When we think about Jesus, his crucifixion, and his mission, revived for the sake of God and for the sake of humankind; it gives hope. Two thousand years later, True Father shared this message to America.

Believe and Love

I really want to share with you: you are more valuable than Jesus 2,000 years ago. Each one of you, to God, to True Parents, is of more value than Jesus 2,000 years ago. The message of Jesus 2,000 years ago is to love your God, and unify around that love. When you love, you become one.

Today this is still true. We must be one in spirit, with each other and with True Parents. Then we can fulfill the mission and our portion of responsibility. This is our God-given commission today, to all of us. You are saved. You are, when you believe in Jesus, saved. This is the first commission, believe. What is next? Love. Practice love, Jesus’s love, True Parents’ love, and then we must be one.

Obedience doesn’t mean to obey whatever your subject tells you do to, no. Obedience means to become one. Unity. This is the meaning of absolute obedience. The English terminology is a bit strong, but this is what True Father means when he talks about obedience.

Four Years of Hope

In 1972, 1973, 1974, until the Madison Square Garden Rally, True Father gave a warning message, New Hope for Christianity, urging Christianity to wake up to its true purpose. True Father delivered this message that we have to revitalize Christianity centering on True Parents. The essence of True Father’s message to America was, “You are my elder son; you are the hope for the sake of God’s providence.”

Today, we still have this mission, this commission, this blessing. We are all saved by True Parents, so let’s move True Parents’ 40-year foundation forward.

What is our theme for next four years? Four Years of Hope. This is really related with the American providence centering on True Parents.

This morning, I woke up from a dream or something, and I heard voice say, “You have to wake up those who do not believe in True Parents as the Second Coming Messiah.” This message came to me and I was shocked. Then, I woke up. Please, let us love Heavenly Parent, as Jesus taught 2,000 years ago, and True Parents teach today. Without filial piety, without knowing our Heavenly Parent, we are not qualified to be owners of Cheon Il Guk. Before we take ownership, we must practice filial piety.

Ladies and gentlemen, let us practice the teachings of Jesus, and let us understand the teachings of True Parents, and love God. Without knowing, it is very hard to love God. Again, Happy Easter everyone, have great weekend, and have a great week. It’s March, and finally in Chicago we have spring. Let us bring this spring-like weather and spirit to the Chicago community and revive each one of us. Thank you and God bless you.