“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

At first glance, today’s verses seem fairly easy to comprehend and apply. “Love one another,” that should be simple enough. But to grasp the full magnitude of these verses, we need to remember whose speaking. Shortly after Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, Jesus has this interaction with Peter. Jesus starts the conversation by saying “My children, I will be with you only a little longer…” – John 13:33. And then we have today’s verses with Christ Jesus giving us a “new command.” So the thing to remember is that it is Jesus who is speaking. And that has a huge impact on what has been said. Jesus’ command to “love one another,” is followed by the words, “As I have loved you.”

Before thinking about the speaker, the idea of loving one another came across as being rather trivial. But when you include “As I have loved you,” knowing that this is Jesus speaking it brings an entirely new intensity to the statement. Sure, as Christians we need to love one another, but I think we tend to look at this from a human understanding of love. But to love as Christ Jesus has loved means we need to act and behave as Christ has for us. Jesus loved by teaching, encouraging, having compassion, serving (to the point of washing feet), healing, praying on our behalf, and the list goes on. Loving others in the same way Jesus loves us, also makes the concluding verse more understandable. Loving as Jesus has loved, is to know and replicate His actions. And replicating His actions will make Jesus known to those who you love. So remember this about today’s verse.

Love one another, but not as you understand love, but as Christ Jesus has loved you.