We’re going to talk about the ultimate commandment.
We find this commandment in John 13:34. Let’s start by reading it in a few different translations:
- ESV: “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.”
- NIV: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
- NLT: “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”
- KJV: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
Alright, let’s get into it. Some people get a little bit confused with the “new” part of it. It’s a new commandment because it’s said a couple of other times where Jesus says, “Love others as I have loved you,” or “Love one another.” But this new commandment that Jesus gives is a game-changer.
The new part is the “as I have loved you” part. Before, it was “love one another as you love yourself,” but Jesus takes it to another level. Here’s where I geek out a bit, this new commandment changes everything. It’s not just about loving others as we love ourselves, because, let’s be real, many of us struggle to love ourselves.
As Christians, we often don’t see ourselves the way God sees us. We might not love ourselves, and that comes out in how we treat others. But this ultimate commandment is different. Jesus says to love one another as He has loved us.
Think about this for a second. How did Jesus love us? Jesus didn’t love us minimally or superficially. He loved us to the point of dying for us, sacrificing for us. He didn’t let our shortcomings stop Him from loving us. This love is based on sacrifice.
Yes, Jesus gave this commandment in the context of His impending departure, and the disciples needed a strong commitment to each other in His absence. But it also applies to us today. How does Jesus love us? He loves us honestly and to a point where He doesn’t let us stay stuck. Jesus puts us in our place but does it with empathy and understanding, just like He did with the woman at the well.
Jesus’ love isn’t an excuse to be a jerk to others. It’s about loving others as He loved us, with empathy, compassion, and a willingness to sacrifice. If you’re only doing it to be right, you’re wrong. Jesus loved us through God’s will, and we are to love others the same way.
This commandment goes beyond Leviticus 19:18, which says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Before Jesus came, loving others as ourselves was the standard, but many of us don’t love ourselves well. We put ourselves down, treat ourselves badly, and project that onto others.
Loving as the Lord has loved us changes the tone. It’s focused on Him and them, not on us. This is a new mode of loving and, therefore, a new mode of living. Biblical love, Jesus’ love, is sacrificial.
Y’all, let’s be real for a second. I started an Instagram account, KarleighWalksWithJesus, a little over a month ago, and I’ve experienced firsthand that there’s no hate like Christian love. It’s one thing for non-believers to criticize, but when fellow Christians attack you, it’s a whole different level of hurt.
I’ve been told I have no right to speak because I’m a woman. I’ve been criticized for my appearance and excitement about Jesus. These hurtful comments come from people who claim to follow Jesus, and it’s disheartening.
But here’s the thing: The ultimate commandment is to love each other as Jesus loved us. It’s time we take ourselves out of the equation and start loving for the sake of loving. None of us deserve this love, but it’s not about us; it’s about the Lord and doing things God’s way.
I’m preaching this to myself too. I have my pettiness and trauma. I’ve taken joy in seeing others get what’s coming to them, but that’s not the way Jesus loved us. He loved us to the point of correcting us, valuing us, and seeing our worth even when we didn’t.
Imagine what the world would be like if we Christians got our act together. The phrase “there is no love like Christian hate” shouldn’t exist, but it does. It’s our job to change that and love others as He loved us.
Take some time today to reflect on how Jesus has loved you, shown up for you, forgiven you. This isn’t about judgment but about realizing how much He loves us so we can take that love to others.
Now, let’s put ourselves in a posture of prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
thank you so much for your Word and for sending your Son. Thank you for loving us so deeply that you refused to let us fall by the wayside. I pray, Lord, that you open the hearts of those who have been burned and show them what it means to love as Jesus loved us. Show me how to love others the way Jesus has loved me. Help me to be an example of your love to the world. And for anyone who hasn’t experienced this love or accepted Jesus as their Savior, I pray that you open their hearts to see you and your love clearly. Thank you, Lord, for all you have done, are doing, and will do in our lives.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love is the greatest commandment but it’s not always the easiest to live out.
I host a live Bible study every Saturday on Zoom where we open Scripture, ask honest questions, and learn how to love God and others with our whole lives.
Click here to join us, you don’t have to grow alone.
