April 29 Have Love

John 13:31-35 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. 33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. 34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.”
 
“HAVE love for one another.” We often hear this in church, don’t we? This foundational truth is taught early and often in Sunday school. Jesus’ love command is also taught early and often in the Bible through the Law of Moses, the Proverbs and the prophets. Why then does Jesus call this a new commandment?
   I believe Jesus was calling his disciples to consider their relationship with one another as a model for the church to come. You might think that having love for one another would be a natural thing for these 11 remaining disciples. Instead, an active, God-based love would be a significant challenge for these men. Consider how they were of various backgrounds, gifts, visions and desires. We know they had different thoughts, and each had his own reasons for being with Jesus. They argued, were jealous of each other and there was division among them. James and John, for example, asked for special favor in the coming Kingdom. (Mark 10:37) Jesus, too, had chosen an inner circle among the Twelve because they God had a unique purpose for each. Pride and jealousy was evident in the disciples.
   To minister the gospel as one faithful force, they would need to overcome these sins and be unified in one purpose, one vision and one passion. That passion would begin by having love for Jesus. In turn, truly loving Jesus, they would love each other with respect, honor, submission, patience, kindness and singleness of purpose. In this way, these true disciples would demonstrate to the world the Savior’s “I’ll die for you.” love. Indeed, this is a new commandment because it is very personal and very necessary in God’s church.
   Yes, it’s still the same today, isn’t it? We who confess Jesus belong to a church. We come from different backgrounds. We have unique reasons for being there, different visions of what we want the church to become. But Jesus wants us united through our love for him. Such a love is necessary, so the world will know Jesus’ love is truly life-giving.
   How do we do this? One primary way to have love for one another in the church is with spiritual care. Engage with others in small group Bible study. Learn of Jesus together. Be loving to ask, “How may I pray for you this week?” Encourage with, “I see Jesus in you as you care for others.”
   Let’s focus with one love for the one God: Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
 
Prayer: I pray, Spirit, that by our love all people will know that we are Jesus’ disciples, if we love one another. (from John 13:35) Amen.