Introduction
Beloved friends in Christ, today’s passage from John 13:33-35 calls us to a profound yet simple commandment: to love one another. Jesus, in His final hours with His disciples, shares these words: “Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Let us dive deeply into this commandment and explore how it resonates in our modern world.
Context of the Passage
Jesus speaks these words during the Last Supper, a time of deep intimacy and vulnerability. He has washed the disciples' feet, symbolizing servant leadership and humility. In this moment, He shifts their focus from His impending departure to the mission they must carry forward: a mission of love.
This “new commandment” isn’t entirely new—God has always called His people to love. What makes it new is the standard Jesus sets: “Just as I have loved you.” This is a sacrificial, selfless love that puts others first, a love that transforms lives.
Loving Like Christ
But what does it really mean to love like Christ? It’s easy to love those who are kind to us, who agree with us, or who show us love in return. Yet Jesus raises the bar. He calls us to love the unlovable—those who seem undeserving of our love—and to do so without expecting anything in return. Let’s unpack this with deeper insights and modern examples.
1. Loving the Unlovable
Jesus loved people who society deemed unworthy. He ate with tax collectors like Zacchaeus, who was hated for exploiting his own people. He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, a person shunned even by her own community. He healed lepers, whom everyone else avoided.
In our modern lives, who are the “unlovable”? Maybe it’s the co-worker who spreads rumors about you. Maybe it’s the family member who constantly criticizes you. Maybe it’s the person whose actions have hurt you deeply. Jesus’ example challenges us to see beyond these offenses and love anyway. Loving the unlovable doesn’t mean excusing harmful behavior, but it does mean choosing compassion over bitterness.
Imagine a family estranged over years of misunderstandings and grudges. One sibling decides to reach out, not because they expect an apology, but because they want to heal. Their decision to show love—even without reciprocity—can break chains of resentment and open doors to reconciliation.
2. Loving Without Expectation
Christ’s love is unconditional. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and forgave sinners without ever asking for anything in return. When He washed the disciples’ feet, He didn’t do it to gain favor but to set an example.
How often do we love with strings attached? We might help a friend but secretly hope for recognition. We might give to charity but expect gratitude. Loving like Christ means letting go of these expectations. It means giving without keeping score.
Think of the anonymous donor who pays off a struggling student’s college tuition or the neighbor who mows an elderly couple’s lawn without telling them. These are acts of love that require nothing in return, yet they leave a profound impact.
3. Loving Those Who Oppose Us
Jesus loved His enemies. As He hung on the cross, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” This is perhaps the most difficult aspect of Christ-like love: extending grace to those who hurt us.
In today’s polarized world, we often see others as enemies simply because they think or believe differently. What if, instead of arguing, we chose to listen? What if we met hostility with kindness?
A real-life example is Daryl Davis, a Black musician who befriended members of the Ku Klux Klan. Through dialogue and kindness, over 200 members left the Klan. Davis’ choice to love and engage rather than hate transformed lives and bridged divides. This is the radical love of Christ in action.
4. Love in Action
True love is more than words; it’s action. It’s showing up for someone in their time of need, even when it’s inconvenient. It’s advocating for justice, feeding the hungry, and comforting the brokenhearted. The love Jesus demonstrated was active, tangible, and transformative.
Think of Mother Teresa, who devoted her life to serving the poorest of the poor. Her love was not abstract; it was feeding, bathing, and holding those whom society discarded. Her example reminds us that love is a verb—a deliberate choice to act.
Practical Application
Jesus’ commandment is not just an ideal; it’s a call to action. How can we live it out?
1. Examine Your Heart: Are there grudges or prejudices you need to let go of? Ask God to help you love those who are difficult to love.
2. Act Locally: Start in your community. Volunteer at a food pantry, visit a nursing home, or mentor a young person. Small acts of kindness can have a ripple effect.
3. Be a Peacemaker: In conversations—both online and offline—choose words that build bridges rather than walls.
4. Love Extravagantly: Go the extra mile for someone. Show generosity even when it’s not required. Let your actions reflect the abundance of God’s love.
5. Pray for Others: Prayer is a powerful act of love. Lift up your family, friends, and even strangers in prayer, asking God to bless and guide them.
Conclusion
Jesus’ command to love one another is not merely a suggestion; it is the defining mark of His disciples. Loving like Christ means extending grace to the unlovable, giving without expecting, and forgiving those who hurt us. It’s not easy, but it is the essence of what it means to follow Him.
In a world crying out for compassion and understanding, our love can be a beacon of hope. By loving as Jesus loved, we not only fulfill His command but also invite others to experience His transformative grace.
Let us leave here today committed to living out this “new commandment.” May our love for one another reflect the depth of Christ’s love for us, so that all may see and know Him through us. Amen.
