Loving One Another

Loving One Another

            One of the distinguishing marks of a follower of Jesus is supposed to be our love for one another.  Jesus said this love for one another would be how people would know that we are his people (John 13:35). 

On the night before he was crucified, he exhorted is disciples:  “A new commandment I give to you:  Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).  The commandment to love was not new as Leviticus 19:18 taught God’s people to love their neighbors as they love themselves.  What is new is that Jesus adds that God’s people are to love one another as “he” loved.  This begs the question:  How did Jesus love?

Jesus loved by sharing his life and entering into our world.  He left the glory, power, and majesty of heaven and entered our world (John 1:14).  He was born as a baby and share life with us.  To love as Jesus loved means to leave the comfort and security of our own world and enter into another’s world by sharing one’s life.  This could mean going to another culture and loving people, or this could simply mean entering into the world of those people you live with every day.

Jesus loved by serving humanity.  He taught, healed people of their diseases, performed miracles, walked many miles, and washed feet.  He said: The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45).  To love as Jesus loved means that it is not about me.  It is about how I can help the other person.  It is about how I can make their life better by serving them.

Jesus loved by sacrificing his life. His death on the cross made atonement for sin which humanity couldn’t make.  Its power brings about forgiveness of sins and allows humans to have a personal relationship with God.  But God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).  To love as Jesus loved means sacrificing selfish desires and ambitions for the sake of another.  It means taking up one’s cross daily and dying to my selfish ways so that others may be blessed. 

Many of us have bought into the “love is a feeling” concept which is popular in our culture.  If I feel love, I love you.  If I don’t feel love, I don’t love you.  Jesus has modeled for us that real love is about what I do and say, not just about what I feel.  It is about sharing oneself. It is about service to the other.  It is about sacrifice for the sake of the other person.

What would happen if followers of Jesus began to take seriously his new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you??

Dr. Foley Beach is the bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the South and rector of Holy Cross Anglican Church in Loganville.  His A Word from the Lord radio broadcast can be heard in Gwinnett County each Sunday morning at 8:30 on WGKA (920 AM) and 10:00 on WMOQ (92.3 FM), or anytime at www.awordfromthelord.org. You may respond to this article or send your questions to foleybeach@awordfromthelord.org.