Old and New Commandment

1 John 2:7-9 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment – to love one another – is the same message you heard before. 8 Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining. 9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness.
 
JOHN is a faithful disciple teaching Jesus’ commands to his church. You’ll find Jesus’ similar language in the Upper Room: John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” How is the command both old and new?
   This foundational truth is taught early and often in the Bible through the Law of Moses, the Proverbs and the prophets. It is an old command have had from the very beginning.
   But Jesus was calling his disciples to consider their relationship with one another as a model for the church to come. These men were of various backgrounds, gifts, visions and desires. They argued and were men seeking their own gain. Pride and jealousy were 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.
   Indeed, this is a new commandment because it is very personal and very necessary in God’s church. 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.
   There are many ways to love others. One way 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 put self aside and 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.
   This unified love destroys the separating, destructive darkness. True disciples are “Light” disciples who make Jesus visible to all.