A New Commandment
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34) As Jesus is preparing to leave the disciples, He gives them a new commandment. The new part of the command was not that they love but that they love as Jesus loved them, giving His life for them.
Today’s romanticized view of love makes it seem strange that Jesus commanded them to love. Yet, we are commanded to “love one another.” Love is a choice, not an emotion. Love is self sacrifice, not a feeling.
We are to love one another as Jesus loves us. This is something that we cannot do on our own. Jesus must produce this love as we allow Him to live His life in us through the Holy Spirit.
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) Loving one another with the love of Jesus is an essential part of our witness to the world. They will know we are His disciples by our love for each other. Through this strange kind of love, that only Jesus can produce, they will see Christ in us.
