We find a command in this passage. It is something we often find difficult to do, but God gives grace. “Love One Another” today from John 13.
Play or download this episode of the Take Note Podcast using the player, or read its transcript below.
“Love One Another”
John 13:34-35
- We find a command in this passage
- It is something we often find difficult to do
- But God gives grace
- And as we are obedient to Him
- We find those who don’t know Christ see this – in us – and know we are His
- Something we are given the ability to do
- Something we must do
- “Love One Another” today from John 13
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
- What kind of love are we talking about here?
- It is the kind of love we see demonstrated by Christ
- It is the kind that puts others first
- The kind that sacrifices
- The kind that has the best interest of the one loved at heart
- It is not selfish
- It sees others in the way Jesus sees them
- Remember a few of the attributes of our Savior, in this regard
- He came in humility
- To be a servant
- And was obedient, even to death
- We see His example – and our responsibility to follow it – clearly in Philippians 2…
Philippians 2:5-8
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
- While we are to love both those who are without Christ and those who know Him
- This emphasis is on loving brothers and sisters
- Jesus makes this plain in verse 35 when he says “my disciples”
- We must have a self-sacrificing love for those who are in the family of God
- We have resources to do this by our unity in understanding what He has done for us
- Among other things, His disciples know…
- He gave His life for us (How could anyone show greater love?)
- He left the glory of heaven to become a man and be subject to “the feelings of our infirmities”
- He offers to everyone – based on His death, burial, and resurrection – the free gift of salvation
- He also offers daily grace for Christian living
- He is filled with kindness and is longsuffering
- He is our provider of joy and peace
- While we our sharing in these blessings
- The blessings of His love for us
- We are required to demonstrate (with His enablement) this same love
- To each other – and to anyone who may be watching
- Because this kind of love will reflect the attributes of our God properly
- And be a sign to anyone who sees, that we are His disciples
- Love like this will reveal our identity
- It will not only be beneficial to the body of Christ, but it will serve as a worthy testimony to the world
- The authenticity of our love will proof of the authenticity of our Savior
- He makes a colossal impact
- And when His love is emulated, it can make a colossal impact
- Remember our text…
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
- This love – the Savior’s brand of love – reflected by His saints
- Will be a defining characteristic of His disciples
- Here are a few cross references that might help us…
I John 3:10-11
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
I John 3:14
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
I John 4:20-21
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
- We see and we understand the mandate
- Let’s be clear on this too: God equips us to love like this
- As we daily walk with Him
- In submission to His will, studying His word, taking action in obedience
- We can “love one another” in the same way Christ loves us