Saturday, February 20, 2010

A New Commandment?

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

There is nothing I'd rather be in life than a disciple of Jesus. While the title Christian may be similar in definition to disciple, it seems as though we have taken this title a little out of context. I have heard it said, and you may have too, that,"If we live in America we are Christians," or, "if I go to church I am a Christian." While neither being an American nor going to church are bad things, how far both are from being the ultimate definition of the title Christian, which actually means follower of Jesus. The word disciple is similar in the sense that it literally means a learner or a pupil. So, if my goal in life is to become a disciple of Jesus that means that my goal in life is to become a lifelong learner (or follower) of Jesus. But being a disciple doesn't just mean that I become a lifelong learner and forgot everyone else, quite the contrary. Our passion for others should increase...

As I was reading through John yesterday I came across a familar passage: John 13:34-35. It is interesting that "love one another" is not new at all (Lev. 19:18), but "as I have love you, so you must love one another" was totally new. Obviously the command to love others the way Jesus loved them was impossible to give in the Old Testament because Jesus had not yet given us His example (v.15). Jesus said the world will know that you are a disciple, not if you are an American, or if you go church (although both are good things), but your love others the way Jesus loved those 11 disciples. Isn't it interesting that Jesus was talking to the 11 at this point, not Judas (who had already taken off at this point - v.30), or the large group?

My Personal Application
How do I love others the way Jesus loved those 11 men?
1) With my time.
2) With my prayers (John 17).
3) With my talents.

Food for Thought
In the same sitting Jesus said the following:
"I have set for you an example that you should do as I have done for you." John 13:15
"As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34
"Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing." John 14:12

"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:17