Love One Another

Love Each Other March 28, 2024 John 13 31 - 35

Intro: Isak Dinesen wrote in his book, “Out of Africa” the story of a boy named Kitau who appeared on day at the author’s door seeking a job as a domestic servant. He was hired and after 3 months asked for a letter of recommendation so he could work for a Muslim. It seems Kitau decided to become either a Christian or a Muslim. His purpose in working for Denisen was to see firsthand how a Christian lived. Now he was going to observe a Muslim family and then he would decide whether he would be a Christian or a Muslim.

I VS. 34 “A new command I give you; love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

A The GK for command here is entole / e?t??e which is translated ad “directly addressed injunctions concerning matters of moral gravity, not limited in duration or person, but incumbent on all individuals of the class to whom it is addressed.

B The “command” given by Jesus here is the only one directly given by Jesus to his disciples. It is interpreted to mean, “a given order” or a “commission.”

C This is not a SUGGESTION. It is a command. It is NOT OPTIONAL; IT IS MANDATORY. So, to be a follower of Jesus, we must love.

II VS. 34b - love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” I have loved you in order that you also love one another.

A The Greek word used here for love I agapao / ??ap??. It means to seek the best for another with no thought of what you might receive in return. It is NOT some sentimental, sappy feeling. Jesus was calling his disciples and us to action not feelings.

B The preposition AS here does not mean “as well as”. In other words, Jesus is not saying I love you, so you should love each other. The word AS here carried with it the meaning “In like manner.” Jesus is telling us and his disciples to love each other in the same way he loved.

C You cannot command an emotion. Love is not a hour here. It is a verb. Understanding the difference between emotion and action. . . between what you feel and what you do . . . love should empower every relationship you have.

III VS. 35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

A Jesus says the world will know we are His followers by our love, not by reciting scripture, not by attending church, not by the amount of money we give. Christ Jesus wants his followers to known for the way we love each other.

B The Christian philosopher Francis Schaffer once said, “the world has a right to judge Christianity by the way we treat others.” Jesus is basically saying, “Don’t TELL others about the love of Jesus; SHOW them by the way you treat others.

C Are you aware of the words that come out your mouth at work . . . are they kind? What about the words that come out of your mouth in your home . . . are the kind and loving? Love isn’t something feel, it is something you do.

Concl: C.S. Lewis wrote, “Do not waste your time bothering whether you love your neighbor; act as if you do. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets of the world. When you are behaving as if you love someone, you will soon come to actually love them. You have not really learned a commandment until you have obeyed it. The church today suffers from Christians who know volumes more than they actually practice.