Read John 14:9-17. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Reflections on the Word.
I remember when the Beatles sang the song, “I love you, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.” The world was on fire and in love with their songs, as well as the singers. I remember girls would faint if John Lennon or Paul McCartney stood in front of them and especially if she was singled out and able to touch them. I bet some of the fans didn’t wash their hands for weeks! Whether its Elvis Presley, the Beatles or some current singer, the love that their fans give to them is shallow and fleeting. It’s based on the artist’s appearance, voice, or fame.
Jesus said this about His kind of love, “12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” The words of Jesus are not new to us. But somehow, we think the words of Jesus are the same as the Mosaic Law, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” These two commands are extremely different. As different as the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.
Jesus commanded that His followers are to love each other as He has loved them. How has Jesus loved others? When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, He asked her for a drink of water. Did He let the social norms prevent Him from initiating a life changing conversation with her? When He fed the crowds, did He take the first bite of the loaves and fishes, or did He serve Himself last? Towards His disciples, He chose them, guided them, provided for them, cared for them, protected them and so much more. Jesus thought more about others than He thought about Himself.
As believers in Christ Jesus, do we have the same attitude of Jesus? Or do we have to get our fun in first, before we are willing to help others? Think about all the time we spend bingeing on Netflix or YouTube, playing games, and updating our social media accounts. How much time have we looked up from our devices to see other people and their needs? Let’s ask ourselves, when was the last time you truly placed another person ahead of yourself? Even if we have, is our attitude, “One and done. They’re not my problem anymore.”? Or do we have the persistent and extravagant love of Christ?
Remember, this is a command of Jesus. It is not a suggestion or recommendation. If we declare that we are His followers, then obeying His commands should be a given. The world will know that we are His disciples, IF we love one another. Let’s show the world that there is a God worth following.
-Kingston