Love One Another

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.' 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 13:33

In today's text, Jesus refers to His disciples as "little children," expressing His affection for them. As Jesus prepares to face His coming crucifixion and departure from this world, He imparts an important commandment foundational to the Christian faith: love one another.

The commandment to love is not a new one. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were instructed to love their neighbors as themselves (Leviticus 19:18). However, Jesus introduces a new dimension to this commandment. He sets forth a radical standard of love—a love that surpasses cultural boundaries, societal norms, and personal preferences. It is a love that mirrors the selfless, sacrificial love He embodies.

Dear Church, we are called to live out this new commandment. Our love for one another becomes a powerful testimony to the world—a witness to the transformative power of Christ's love dwelling within us. When we genuinely love one another, we draw others to experience the unconditional love that can only be found in Jesus. In a world marked by division, hostility, and self-centeredness, loving one another becomes a counter-cultural act that points people to the hope and reconciliation found in Christ.

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 22:36-40

Today, let us reflect on the significance of Jesus' words in John 13:33. As we seek to follow Christ's commandment, may our love be a powerful testimony of His grace, drawing others closer to His redemptive love.