AUG 26

John 13:34-35
Memorise John 13:35
“…as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

Leviticus 19:18 first gave the commandment of loving thy neighbour as thyself, and Jesus Himself echoed this commandment several times. The reason why John 13:34 mentions this as a new commandment is because of the additional phrase “as I have loved you”. Prior to this, the disciples might have been tempted to limit the extent to which they showed love to their neighbour. Remember how the Jewish lawyer found it so hard to confess a Samaritan as his neighbour in Luke 10:29-37. Remember how Jonah initially could not bring himself to preach to the Ninevites in Jonah 1-2. The new commandment Jesus gave showed that there was no limit to this love towards our neighbour, for as much as Jesus loves us, we too should love our neighbour: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35). The disciples were soon going to witness Jesus going to the Cross, the greatest demonstration of love ever, and that same love of Christ we receive should spur every one of us Christians who bear His Name to likewise show that same love of Christ to every other Christian. Through such a testimony, others may see true love in action and then be able to better understand what the love of Christ is all about, and identify us as disciples of this Lord of love. And this audience includes unbelievers.

Like the Jews, we probably limit the extent we love our neighbour; we show most love for family and friends, show far less love to our church brethren, and like the lawyer we might even ignore unbelievers! First of all, we must realise that the blood of Christ that is shed for all believers is thicker than the blood of family, thus we should love those whom Christ loves and gave His life for. We must show love to unbelievers as well, in sharing with them the most precious gift of salvation in Christ Jesus and doing everything possible to further the gospel cause, such that “all men” may know we are truly His disciples. Without genuine love for these who are perishing and dying, these unbelievers may on the other hand perceive we are just doing our duty and could not care less! Let us learn from the compassion that Christ showed to the lost, for these are the people He came to save. Let us thus be a testimony of Christ’s love.

Thought: Do I limit whom I love?
Prayer: That I may love others as Christ does.