If you’re still here, welcome to day 6 of our yearlong walk with Jesus!
We are diving deeper into the commandments of Jesus today as we visit John chapter 13:
“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. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””
John 13:34-35 ESV
Since God isn’t constrained by time, it’s His timing that is most important to us. His timing for all things is perfect.
We see Jesus giving a “new commandment” here - the commandment to love one another as He has loved them. He tells them that by this, all people will know you are His disciples.
Seems strange for Jesus to give a commandment to love right? That’s a hard thing to command and it hardly seems necessary to tell His own followers this. Wasn’t His whole message love? What makes this new or so important to command it?
Timing.
These words fall perfectly in time at the Passover meal - right after Jesus (Son of the Most High God) washes the feet of His disciples and predicts the betrayal of Judas - and right before His incredible sacrifice on the cross for all people.
Washing feet was a job for the lowliest of servants - not a Teacher of King. Washington the feet of His betrayer shows more love than can be written in words.
Giving His life for the very people who drove in the nails And still reject Him today is a love like has never been seen.
So what makes this a “new commandment”?
He says to love like He does.
Washington feet. Self sacrificing. Even to the very worst most evil people. Living as a sacrifice and servant and dying as one.
Only through this will the world know and see Jesus.
Not by loving other people, but by loving like He does.
Only His love matters.
This journey is founded on Jesus and His love.
