Jesus made two shocking statements to His disciples on the night of His betrayal. Judas had left the group and the mechanisms that would lead to Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion had been set into motion. Knowing what was about to unfold and just hours before His death on a cross Jesus turned His attention to His disciples and made two startling forward looking statements. Jesus spoke to those around Him but His audience would be all who would call Him Lord and follow His way. He said that there would be two characteristics of His true disciples, two marks that would distinguish His church, two things that would reveal His Kingdom to the world, and two proofs of His identity and the reality of God’s love.
The first of Jesus’ startling statements was in the context of a new commandment, John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Here Jesus expresses the characteristics of this love. It is a love that goes beyond feelings and emotion to action and sacrifice. Jesus said that His love is to be the example for our love toward one another, disciple for disciple. Just before giving this commandment Jesus had washed the their feet and soon the full extent of His love would be poured out on the cross. This kind of love is not only exemplified by the cross but it is also the caliber of love which Jesus calls His disciples to express one toward another.
This command is not only shocking in it’s depth but Jesus said that this type of love is unique in the world because by it’s expression “all people will know that you are my disciples.” A loving community of Christ followers, is the visible authentication of the Gospel. Francis Schaeffer called it the “final apologetic”.
Unlike other human associations, the church is to be marked by an inclusiveness which echoes the acceptance and love of Jesus. The church is to be a community that welcomes all people, regardless of ethnic heritage, age, gender, color, moral history, social or economic status, political opinion, and even religious background. To love like Jesus is to love inclusively, universally and completely.
When that kind of love flows within a congregation the world will realize it is beyond the norm and will take note that those folks ‘have been with Jesus’. Tertullian, in the late second century, reported a comment of the pagans of his day: ‘Behold, how these Christians love each other! How ready they are to die for each other!’ Their mutual love was a magnet which drew the pagans to Christ and into the early church.
That love has the same potential today! In today’s pluralistic, post-modern culture many will be attracted to the love expressed by the people of God before they know and can accept the love of God. May we be a community of Jesus followers that embraces and genuinely loves the Church and all her expressions. Always searching for ways to join our voices in proclaiming the Gospel, always ready to affirm Christ-likeness and the Spirit’s work in us, always willing to link arms in the Mission of God, always working to set aside things the things that divide us and always cultivating the love of Christ that unites us under His Lordship.
Let us be known in our communities by our love for one another.
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