1.5 Minute Read
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."
John 13:34 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.13.34.NASB1995
Jesus commanded His Apostles to “love one another”. What’s so new about that? Of course, that was nothing new. From the beginning, God has expected us to love one another. But what was different now than from before was Jesus Himself. Jesus was the difference.
The commandment to “Love your neighbor as your yourself” is the second greatest commandment (Mark 12:31). And that’s still true and still a commandment. But now, we have a higher standard than ourselves. We have the standard of Jesus.
#WHM “as” - (καθώς / Kathōs / kath-oce') “in the manner that” or “just as”. “I have loved you”. He then repeats the command that they “love one another”. Consider the Apostles for just a moment. They talked with Jesus, they walked with Jesus, they sat at His feet and listened to Him teach day in and day out, and yet, they still didn’t “get it” sometimes. (ref: Mark 8:14-21) There was still jealousy, and arrogance, and pride, and ignorance and sin amongst them. They seemed to be all on the same team, but at the same time, we see times when they lacked love for one another. Sometimes they didn’t even love one another as themselves, much less love one another like Jesus. What about us?
Do we truly love one another as Jesus has loved us? Is that seen in our homes, in our families, and especially in our churches? Is it seen in our workplace, in our community, and especially... online on social media, etc.? 🫣Do we love through service like Jesus? Do we love through kindness and compassion like Jesus? Do we love through grace, and mercy, and forgiveness like Jesus? Do we love through humility and sacrifice like Jesus? To our spouse, our children, our parents, our neighbor, our brethren? Do we love one another like Jesus?
Today, we have a great opportunity to show our love to our brethren, “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) Let’s love one another as Jesus loves us by being there (#1) and when we are there (#2) let us love one another like Jesus by participating, and serving, and giving our all.
May the life and love of Jesus inform us, guide us, and lead us each day of our lives.
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