A New Commandment

So now I [Jesus] am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” [John 13.34-35]

A new commandment? How is this different than what the old covenant law summarized (love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself)?

There is in fact something different about it because Jesus indicated it was different. We must look at all of what Jesus said however to get what He meant.

Jesus was speaking to His disciples. "Each other" meant each of the disciples should love one another. Herein lies the "difference." It is not so much that Jesus said to hate the people of the world, but He did specify that they love one another within their unique group.

It would be that unique group of Jesus' followers, in the way they love each other, that the world then would see something real and meaningful in.

So, within the Body of Christ (the Church) we are to love one another in such a way that it is differentiated from the way we love those outside the Body of Christ. We find our guide for so doing in the life and relationship of Jesus with these men.

Father, help me to understand this very precise instruction given by Jesus! Help me to understand the need for obeying Jesus' "new commandment" and how to best live it out in my own circumstances!