John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
Jesus presents an important command in a fresh, new way.
Jesus came down to earth to define an existing command in a new way. Jesus’ love was newly defined by His example, on the cross. The command more than for us to love Him outstandingly was to love one another. There was to be a special presence of love among the followers of Christ. And the model or reference was to be how Christ loved us.
Love is one of the primary markers of every disciple of Christ. Jesus would mark us by our love, as would the watching world. One of the key ways we are recognized as followers of Christ is the love that is evidenced in our relationships with others. As Christ’s disciples, we are to love each other the way Jesus did. Christ modeled extraordinary love and came to teach us to love each other in the same way. “We are to love our neighbor as ourselves, but we are to love our fellow Christians as Christ loved us, and that is far more than we love ourselves.†(Spurgeon)
How is love evident especially in your difficult relationships? Are you divinely different in response to God’s reckless love for you?
Lord help me grow in your love.
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