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John 13:34, 35 - The New Command - Love As Jesus Did.

John 13:34, 35 (NIV) 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. 

INTRODUCTION

A new commandment ... as I have loved you. 
The commandment to love was not new. Deuteronomy 
6:5 commanded love for God and Leviticus 19:18 
commanded loving one's neighbor as oneself (Matt. 
22:34-40; Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:14; James 2:8). 
However, Jesus' command regarding love presented a 
distinctly new standard for two reasons: 1) it was 
sacrificial love modeled after His love (as I loved You; 
15:13), and 2) it is produced through the New 
Covenant by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit 
(Jer. 31:29-34; Ezek. 36:24-26; Gal. 5:22). 
[MacArthur Daily Bible 2003] 

We are to love each other as Jesus loved us, 
and he loved us enough to give his life for us. 
We may not have to die for someone, but there 
are other ways to practice sacrificial love: 
listening, helping, encouraging, giving. Think of 
someone in particular who needs this kind of love 
today. [Life Application SB re 15:12, 13] 

Love is more than simply warm feelings; it 
is an attitude that reveals itself in action. 
How can we love others as Jesus loves us? By 
helping when it's not convenient, by giving when it 
hurts, by devoting energy to others' welfare rather 
than our own, by absorbing hurts from others 
without complaining or fighting back. This kind of 
loving is hard to do. That is why people notice 
when you do it and know you are empowered by a 
supernatural source. The Bible has another beautiful 
description of love in 1 Corinthians 13. [Life 
Application SB] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   If you want to grow spiritually, let love 
be the ruling principle of your life. Be ruled 
by love.  
   Love does not necessarily imply approval 
of the one loved. If God had waited until He 
could approve of us before He sent His Son to 
redeem us, where would we be? 
   Of all the gifts God offers His children, 
love is the greatest. Of all the fruits of the 
Holy Spirit, love is the first. 
   The Bible declares that we who follow 
Christ should love one another as God loved us when 
He sent His Son to die on the cross. The Bible 
says that the moment we come to Christ, He gives 
us supernatural love and that His love is shed 
abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. The 
greatest demonstration of the fact that we are 
Christians is that we love one another. If we learn 
this secret of God early in our Christian 
experience, we will have gone a long way toward a 
mature, happy Christian life. 
   Are you waiting to approve of someone 
before you love them fully? [Peace for Each Day by 
Billy Graham] 

COMMENTARY

   My oldest son, Jack, is home from college 
right now. My two younger boys, Will and Addison, 
are still in school, but are more than ready for 
summer. The other night after everyone had gone to 
bed, I tossed and turned until midnight. When I 
couldn't sleep, I finally got up to go check on the 
boys. Mom habits die hard. I checked Will's room, 
and he wasn't there. Neither was Addison. 
   I opened the door to Jack's room to find 
all three of them watching a show on Jack's 
computer. They knew they were busted. They mumbled, 
"Sorry, Mom," and Will and Addison hurried to their 
rooms. I couldn't stay mad for long. I love that my 
boys like hanging out - even in the middle of the 
night. It hasn't always been that way. In fact, 
punching with a side of yelling used to be the way 
they communicated their love to one another. Now, 
nothing brings my heart more joy than seeing them 
love one another. 
   Nothing brings Jesus more joy than seeing 
us love one another. Too often I get caught up 
in disagreements or become irritated with those 
around me. But when I go out of my way to show 
kindness or forgiveness to people, I fill Jesus with 
joy. When I love others like Jesus loves me, I 
start to look like Him. Susanna Foth Aughtmon 
   Faith Step: What is a way that you can 
reach out in love? Ask Jesus to put a person on 
your heart who needs His love and pray for her 
throughout the day. [Mornings With Jesus 2022 
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY

John 13:34, 35 - The Distinguishing Mark of 
a Christian. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200831-1501.html 

John 13:34, 35 - The New Command - Love As 
Jesus Did. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2017/20170209-1059.html 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/