Christian Love
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” John 13:34,35
We are in the Upper Room. Jesus has shared the meal with His disciples and washed their feet. The atmosphere has been heavy, though with Judas’ departure, it seems to have lifted a little.
Paraphrasing Jesus’ tender words to His disciples, “My children, I won’t be with you much longer. The event that Judas has started not only means My glory, it also means our separation. I’m going to leave you. You’ll want to be where I am but you can’t come. This is the end of our three years together and now we must say goodbye. Little children, you must be brave. We’ve been together these three years. You’ve seen Me and I’ve seen you. We’ve walked, talked and eaten together. We’ve slept in the same room. That’s going to finish soon. Just a little while longer. I told you the Jews couldn’t come where I was going; now I’ve got to tell you the same.”
He added, “I’ve got one supreme concern: that after I’ve gone you eleven remain together.” Until now they had all stayed together because they had Jesus with them. If Jesus had left them at any time in the three years, they would have split up quickly. Jesus’ physical presence kept them together. But they were so mixed temperamentally and by their different backgrounds that without Jesus’ presence, they could easily split up.
So Jesus said, “I’ve got one important thing to say to you. My little children, after I’m gone, I want you to stick together. Love one another. It’s a new commandment.”
In what sense is it a new commandment? Under the old covenant God told Israel to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength’ (Deuteronomy 6:4) and to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Leviticus 19:18) but not to ‘Love one another.’ This is the love Jesus’ followers are to have. It’s not a love for God or even a love for our neighbour and the world. It’s the love Christians are to have for Christians.
It’s a commandment. Some people think love can’t be commanded, that it is a feeling that you have or you don’t have. But Jesus said “Love one another.’ I command you.”
Notice two more things about this love. Firstly, it is measured by Jesus’ love for us, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Jesus will again tell His disciples to love one another as He loved them in John 15:12 but then immediately follow the command with “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (15:13). This love shows loyalty and commitment right to the point of death.
And secondly, it is to be the outstanding sign that marks us out as Christians, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Other groups might come together because of common interests or common goals but the church is to stand out because it loves people inclusively, lavishly and indiscriminately. Tertullian reported in the late second century the comment of the pagans of his day, “Behold how these Christians love each other. How ready they are to die for each other.” Their mutual love was the magnet that drew multitudes to Christ. It did then and it still does today.
How do you show your love for other Christians? How should you show it?
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