Loving Others
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.
John 13:34
Jesus spoke with an authority that captivated hearts and unveiled divine truths. His words weren't mere repetitions of ancient texts; they dripped with fresh revelation, drawing crowds eager to hear the heart of God. The religious leaders of His day meticulously taught the Old Testament—the laws of Moses, the psalms of David, the prophecies of Isaiah. Yet Jesus went beyond recitation. He illuminated the profound intentions woven into those sacred words, revealing God's deepest desires for humanity.
Time and again, Jesus contrasted human interpretations with divine reality: "You have heard that it was said... but I say to you..." Consider His teaching on anger: "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment" (Matthew 5:21-22 ESV). Here, Jesus didn't abolish the law; He elevated it, plunging into the depths of the heart where true obedience begins. This wasn't legalistic refinement—it was a call to transformational holiness.
A New Commandment
In John 13:34, Jesus declares, "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" (ESV). At first glance, this seems familiar—love has always been central to God's commands: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart... and your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5). So, what makes it new?
The novelty lies not in the command to love, but in its standard: as I have loved you. No longer is the benchmark our flawed self-love, which can be inconsistent, self-indulgent, or even absent in moments of self-loathing. Jesus redefines love by His own example—unconditional, extravagant, and self-sacrificial. He removes every loophole, every excuse. This is love without limits, mirroring the Father's heart.
How did Jesus love us? He laid down His life. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13 ESV). He surrendered heavenly glory, endured betrayal, suffered mockery, and bore the cross—not for the deserving, but for sinners like us. This is the extreme love He commands us to emulate.
Our Cross
We cannot replicate Jesus' atoning death on Calvary; that sacrifice was unique, paying humanity's sin debt once for all. Yet, we can carry our own cross daily (Luke 9:23). This means dying to self—prioritizing others' well-being above our own comfort, rights, and desires. It's the essence of Jesus' Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).
A lawyer, seeking to justify himself, asked, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus responded with a story of a despised Samaritan who mercifully aided a beaten Jewish traveler, while religious passersby ignored him. Jesus concluded, "Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" The lawyer replied, "The one who showed him mercy" (Luke 10:36-37 ESV). Mercy triumphs over enmity; even enemies are neighbors worthy of Christlike love.
This parable shatters our selective affection. Loving friends is easy; loving adversaries demands the cross. As Jesus showed mercy to us on the cross—forgiving those who crucified Him—we must extend mercy to all, especially those who oppose us.
Greater Love in Action
Jesus reiterated this command shortly before His betrayal: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12 ESV), immediately adding the pinnacle of love—laying down one's life. Not everyone will die physically for another, but we can live sacrificially every day: forsaking privileges, entitlements, and preferences for others' sake.
The early church embodied this. The Apostle John wrote, "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers" (1 John 3:16 ESV). They shared possessions, forgave persecutors, and prioritized unity, fulfilling the law through love.
Paul echoed this: "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'" (Galatians 5:14 ESV). Pursue this single ambition, and every commandment falls into place. It simplifies discipleship while demanding everything.
No Room for Hypocrisy
I once heard my friend Scarlett Cheney say, “If I want to be in harmony with God, I must be in harmony with my brother.” She’s right and the apostle John agrees with her. He warns sternly: "If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother" (1 John 4:20-21 ESV).
What about the truly wicked—murderers, abusers, those whose actions horrify us? Jesus doesn't demand we endorse sin; righteous anger is appropriate. Yet, we must grieve for their eternal souls, praying for repentance as God desires none to perish (2 Peter 3:9). Our greater struggle often isn't with monsters, but with the neighbor who wronged us, the family member who hurts us, the colleague who undermines us. To them, Jesus says: "Love as I have loved you."