”"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 13:34New International Version (NIV)
John 13:34 Devotional
Love One Another as God loves you
In John 13:34, Jesus Christ gave His disciples a new command on the eve of His crucifixion. He commanded them (His disciples and followers) to love one another.
Sacrificial love
First, how was this a new command? It was a new command because, while Jesus’ earlier commands focused on love, this command was based on the way He had loved them.
Therefore, the way that the disciples were to love each other was to be similar to the way He had loved them. Remember, throughout their three and a half years together, Jesus had chosen (saved) them, served them (John 13:1), walked with them, patiently taught them, trained them, and empowered them.
But in a few hours, He was going to die on the cross. He was going to die for the world, them included. And through His death, He was going to demonstrate love in its highest form.
Besides, Jesus’ love for His disciples was synonymous with God’s love for His children. And God loved us by giving Jesus for us (1 John 4:10-11).
Indeed, never before had the Son of God come into the world and laid down His life for His people. Consequently, Jesus expected them to love one another sacrificially. And this is what the early Church apostles and believers practiced (Acts 2:44-45). They took care of each other’s needs.
Belonging
Additionally, in John 13:35, Jesus revealed that their love for one another would enable the world to know that they belonged to Him. Therefore, their love for one another was the only characteristic that would differentiate (identify) them, and you, as His disciples.
Consequently, Jesus calls us Christians to give ourselves to one another. We do this for the sake of building one another up and manifesting the love that God in Christ has for each of us.
The Holy Spirit
Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit is the only One who can enable you to love like Christ did and does (Romans 5:5 and 2 Peter 1:3-4). Therefore, to fully obey this command, you must be fully yielded to God’s Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Prayer/Blessing
Lord, I need Your help for me to fully obey Your command to love my fellow disciples. I totally surrender to your Spirit to enable me to do this. And I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
May your love for others flow through the enablement of the Spirit. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Isaiah 10-14 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
