“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34
There are two parts of this verse that strike me. One is the word “command.” Usually, when I think of this word, I think of the Ten Commandments, which were a sign of God’s covenant with the Israelite people. Now He’s giving us a new command, a sign of the new covenant through Jesus. Along with the word “command” is the word “must.” We “must” love one another. This is so hard to understand in America where we have just one word for love. The love that Jesus is talking about is agape love, or God’s love. It’s a choice, not a feeling. Feelings may accompany it, but that’s not the essence of agape. Rather, we choose to treat even the “unlovable” as scripture tells us, especially in “the Love Chapter,” 1 Corinthians 13.
We may think that’s a pretty difficult command until we get the second part, which is “as I have loved you”. How has Jesus loved us? At the time He spoke these words, He had spent three years with them, teaching, walking, preaching, living with them. He had dedicated His life on this earth to them. I’m sure the original hearers of these words had all this in mind and probably wondered how they could possibly give of themselves that completely. They would soon see that He was willing to sacrifice His very life for them. What about us? Do we love others that completely? More importantly, do we love God enough to show His love to others in that way? Our God never does things half-way. His love for us is complete and full, and He expects the same from us. Did I just hear someone say that it’s impossible? You’re right! Praise God that He never expects us to do this on our own. He will give us this love for others if we just ask