A New Commandment

ByJim Stephens

Scripture: John 13:34-35 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35 NLT)

The commandments Jesus had affirmed as most important were: 1) Love God with all your heart and 2) Love your neighbor as you love yourself. (Matthew 22:34-40). Now Jesus adds a new commandment, “Love each other just as I have loved you.”

This had quite an impact on John as he sat at the table next to Jesus that night. John would write these words to the churches nearly sixty years later:

11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 14 If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. 16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. (1 John 3:11, 14, 16 NLT)

20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. (1 John 4:20-21 NLT)

The legitimacy of our faith is not determined by correct doctrine, but by loving other Christians as Jesus loves us. This is our proof to the watching world. If we do it, we’re legit. If we don’t we aren’t!

I’m not sure what to do with this on a global scale, friends. But I know what to do about it on a personal level. Serve others more, demand my “rights” less. Listen to those I disagree with. Love the truth, reject the lies. Bless and not curse. Pray for those who reject me. Love my neighbors, brothers and sisters, and my enemies. I’m gonna need some help with this! How about you?

Prayer:

Father, I want to be a disciple of Jesus! Help me love others as Jesus loves me. It’s kinda crazy out there right now. May we hear your voice through the noise. Amen!