We talk a lot about love in the Christian Community. But what exactly does love mean? In Deuteronomy 6, God declares that his people are to love him with their whole heart, and their neighbor as themselves. Jesus proclaims to his disciples the same words in the gospels. In fact, he embodies what true unconditional love is by washing the disciples’ dirty and dusty feet. This act of selfless love permeated the upper room and called the disciples to express this new love. A love that displays ultimate sacrifice and service to all. This new commandment of love was no longer from the law of stone tablets, but a law written on the tablet of their heart for all eternity and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross paid for all, and through it all, and above all, he came to serve all. We cannot love anyone apart from God’s eternal love in Christ. We only love because God first loved us and from his love is how we fully love others. It is an unconditional love flowing in favor, mercy, and grace. To receive God’s eternal love, we must surrender our whole heart to him so that he can make us new. Jesus declares that love is the distinguishing mark, a branding of becoming a Christ follower and how others witness the love of God shed abroad in our hearts.

The time had come for Jesus’ death and glorification. Jesus shares his final discourse with his beloved disciples in the upper room. What must the disciples have been thinking when Jesus gets up from the table, takes off his robe, and begins to wash their feet? Washing the guests’ dusty feet was the job of a slave and not the host. Jesus was demonstrating a new commandment of love by laying down his life for another. He came to serve and not to be served. Jesus came to reveal the power of God’s love through a new commandment of mutual love. John 13:34 (NRSV) describes this new commandment, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”

This love is an extension of who God is. God is love. It is a new standard and form through Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross. The commandment to love one another was meant to unite his disciples to be an effective witness to the world. This attitude of love was the cohesive bond that held their fellowship together to build God’s Kingdom and demonstrate the character of Christ. Jesus loved his disciples selflessly and desired that they would do the same to their neighbor. His love has no limits and is without measure, and no matter what they did, his love remained constant. How marvelous!

What does this new commandment of love look like for us in our relationships today? Helping others when it is inconvenient, forgiving when you have been wronged, loving others before yourself, and appreciating where they are by not trying to change them. Wow! What a commandment! The Scripture tells us that because we are born of God, we were created to express God’s love to the world. Many of us love for what the individual might become and not as a person is. But this new commandment summons us to love the whole person as Christ loves us even in the shape we are. Sometimes we love others through our own experience of love, but God’s love draws us to the person of Jesus so that we might love as he loves us and reflect this selfless love to the world.

Love is not something we obtain, seek, or even find happiness in, but it is the essence of God’s supremacy and glory displayed in Jesus by way of the Holy Spirit. God desires that our love for him be strong and personal; in other words, this new commandment frees us to live and express that same love to all through our relationship with Jesus. Spending time with Jesus, praising Jesus, and loving Jesus amid our limitations; and as a result, God’s all-powerful and sacrificial love sweeps over our being with the Spirit’s breath to love one another and display to the world that we are true disciples of Jesus Christ.

As I was reading in one of my father’s many bibles, I found this simple love letter he wrote about my mother and how it was an extension of loving others because God first loved us (John 4:19; NRSV). “Our love for each other birthed a son and three daughters. Beautiful Ina Belle laid aside her teaching career to be a full-time loving and caring mother. She was truly their teacher and role model. She amazingly took care of our four little ones who were so close in age. Each one received equal attention, care, and love. She was the consistent anchor that held us altogether. I honor her for her daily love to every member of our family and so many lives that she touched along the way. She constantly stands strong as a beacon of the light, love, and life of Jesus our Savior. I love you so much Ina Belle and thank God for your loving touch in our lives and the lives of everyone.”

Reflection:

1)   Are you a reflection of Christ’s love?

2)   How do you display Christ’s love to others?

Dear Father,

We praise you for your sacrificial love for us in Christ. Even though we are underserving, you offered us a new commandment to love selflessly. Help us when we fall short to know that your love is unconditional and eternal. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for changing our hearts through the power of God’s love.

In Jesus name,

Amen!

Blessings,

Dr. Caroline