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

 

When Jesus gives us the new commandment to "love one another as I have loved you," He wants us to love others in the same way that He loves us. This is something we cannot do on our own, but we may rely on Christ to help us fulfil His command.

The Law of Christ is unlike the Law of Moses. It is not a burdensome yoke imposed on us. Rather, we can love like Jesus because His Spirit works within and through us. His love in us compels us to give as we receive. Right now, we have all the love we need in Jesus. So, if we struggle to love others, it is not due to a lack of love, but rather the lack of walking in love.

Walking in love is learning to love people just as Jesus loves us.

It is about embracing the attitude of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. We are to be patient and kind with one another, in the same way Jesus treats us. Ultimately, it is to accept people for who they are and simply love them without expecting anything from them. There is no fear of being taken advantage of or feel used. This is because receiving God's love and experiencing oneness with Him secures our identity in Christ. In this sense we are participating with Christ in His work of reconciling love.

When we do everything from the truth of who we are and have in Christ, we experience grace within us to love even more deeply and fully. In other words, there is no better way to reveal that Christ is in us and with us than through our love for one another and others.