Let Us Do What Jesus DidShembull

Love one another as Jesus has loved you

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one

another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love

one another. By this all people will know that you are

my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus places extraordinary emphasis on the call to love one another. First, there’s the setting: the eve of his death. Last words are important words. Then he calls it a new commandment. New in what sense? New in the call to love as Jesus has loved us.

Furthermore, there is the emphasis of repetition: love one another, love one another, and have love for one another. Three times.

Also, Jesus reminds the disciples of his love for them: “As I have loved you.” Jesus is their model. Having been loved, they must love.

But the main way Jesus emphasizes love is when he says that love is the mark of his disciples. Not a mark, but the mark. This is it: loving one another. Nothing more, nothing less, nothing other than love is the distinguishing mark of a disciple.

It would be a lot easier if the identifying mark of Christ’s disciples was something else: church attendance, Bible knowledge, memorizing verses, giving money, or serving the poor. Any of those would be easier, but the mark is something grander, deeper, and stronger.

Love each other. Care about people. Care about others so much that you will inconvenience yourself to help them. See people as precious, eternal, and specially made by God. Be patient, gentle, and kind. Forgive. Serve. Pray. Listen. Weep. Laugh.

Love people when they don’t deserve to be loved. 

Love people when they don’t love you back. 

Love people when they can’t love you back.

Love people with all your heart and all your soul. Above all else, love one another.

There is no other mark of a disciple.