From my reading in John 13:21-38 in the One Year New Testament.
Jesus gave his disciples a “new” command right after demonstrating his great love by washing their feet.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34–35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another…
Jesus gave them a “new” command, but it sounded a lot like the other commands that God had already given. Loving others, and especially your fellow believers, was not a new concept. So what was new about this command?
Even as I have loved you, that you also love one another…
No one had ever loved like Jesus. His love was beyond any this world had ever seen and will ever see. This was the new part!
Basically he was saying, “LOVE LIKE ME! You should love others in the same way as I have loved you.”
- Love each other by serving sacrificially.
- Share your lives.
- Share truth.
- Meet practical needs.
- Treat each other as members of your own family.
These are the ways Jesus loved!
Who wouldn’t want to be a part of a community like that?
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Loving your Christian brothers and sisters is one of the our greatest witnesses to the world.
Love is to be the distinguishing difference between those who belong to Jesus and those who don’t. People will be busting down the doors to be a part of a community that really takes what Jesus said here seriously.
Has your Christian walk been focused on loving as Jesus loved?
How can you love others the way that Jesus has loved you today?
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