“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. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
(John 15:12-13 ESV)
Here Jesus gives us a “New Commandment” - to love one another as He has loved us. Jesus loves us so much that He gave His life for us. There is no greater love - there can be no greater sacrifice - than this. As disciples of Christ, we are called to love one another with this same unselfish love.
While all of us may not be called to physically die for someone (though if called to do so, we should respond without hesitation), we can still offer our sacrificial love for others in many different ways. When we put the needs of others before our own, we extend this kind of selfless love. When we sacrifice of ourselves for the benefit of others, we demonstrate this wonderful, sacrificial love. Putting “you before me” is the core of this concept. By putting others first, we give of ourselves selflessly and sacrificially for their needs. We lay down (put aside) our life for the sake of theirs - regardless of the cost.
Jesus always puts our needs first. He is the Good Shepherd that laid down His life for His sheep (cf. John 10:11). He saved us by sacrificing Himself for us on the cross. He suffered and died in our place that we would be healed and have everlasting life (see Isaiah 53:5 and John 3:16). He was the Suffering Servant that always gave of Himself for the benefit of others. He did not come to be served but to serve, and He gave His life as our ransom (see Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). There is no greater love than the love He has shown to us.
Christ is our example of how we are to love one another. We are to give of ourselves as He gave of Himself. It is when we show the love of Christ to others that we live out His commandment. When we do so, we make an impact on the lives of those around us. When we do so, we “re-present” the love of Christ to the world.
There is no greater love than the love of Jesus Christ. Let us love one another in the same way that He loved us!
Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your sacrificial love. We thank You for laying down Your life for us. Teach us, Lord, to love one another as You have always loved us. Teach us to live and to love by Your example. There is no greater love than Yours. In Your name we pray, Amen. †
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
(John 15:12-13 ESV)
Here Jesus gives us a “New Commandment” - to love one another as He has loved us. Jesus loves us so much that He gave His life for us. There is no greater love - there can be no greater sacrifice - than this. As disciples of Christ, we are called to love one another with this same unselfish love.
While all of us may not be called to physically die for someone (though if called to do so, we should respond without hesitation), we can still offer our sacrificial love for others in many different ways. When we put the needs of others before our own, we extend this kind of selfless love. When we sacrifice of ourselves for the benefit of others, we demonstrate this wonderful, sacrificial love. Putting “you before me” is the core of this concept. By putting others first, we give of ourselves selflessly and sacrificially for their needs. We lay down (put aside) our life for the sake of theirs - regardless of the cost.
Jesus always puts our needs first. He is the Good Shepherd that laid down His life for His sheep (cf. John 10:11). He saved us by sacrificing Himself for us on the cross. He suffered and died in our place that we would be healed and have everlasting life (see Isaiah 53:5 and John 3:16). He was the Suffering Servant that always gave of Himself for the benefit of others. He did not come to be served but to serve, and He gave His life as our ransom (see Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). There is no greater love than the love He has shown to us.
Christ is our example of how we are to love one another. We are to give of ourselves as He gave of Himself. It is when we show the love of Christ to others that we live out His commandment. When we do so, we make an impact on the lives of those around us. When we do so, we “re-present” the love of Christ to the world.
There is no greater love than the love of Jesus Christ. Let us love one another in the same way that He loved us!
Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your sacrificial love. We thank You for laying down Your life for us. Teach us, Lord, to love one another as You have always loved us. Teach us to live and to love by Your example. There is no greater love than Yours. In Your name we pray, Amen. †
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