In John 13:34, Jesus told his disciples, "A new command I have given you: Love one another." And, in the next verse (35) he continued, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
It is interesting that Jesus calls this command to love new as it was commanded in the days of Moses, "love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev 19:18). And, God, who "is love" (1 Jn 4:8), would certainly have expected his children to love each other from the beginning. Yet, Jesus does say, "a new command I have given you." How so?
Look at the qualifier of this love as we read the rest of 13:34, "As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Ah, this is the new, a love so deep it has no bottom. A love so exhaustive that it cannot be exhausted. A love that would give up everything, even life itself for the other, this is the new command. He love loved us to the point of death, "even death on a cross!" (Phil 2:8).
This new command pushes the old command to love neighbors as yourself, to loving others more than self, to "in humility value others above yourselves" (Phil 2:3). The "as much" is replaced with the "more than." And, this love is not to be reserved for those who love you.
Jesus would further add, "You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies..." (Matt 5:43-44). Wow! This is a command so new that it hasn't quite caught on yet, has it? This command from Jesus is still a shocker to most of us, even as Christians. But it is his command and it is our commandment.
What will we do with it? How will we fulfill this new command? Will you keep it? Jus' Ask'n.
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