A New Commandment

Barbara and I are headed to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota early Monday morning for her four-month checkup. She is doing well and getting better by the day. Due to our travels Monday, I am posting Monday's Bble Insight today.

On the night Jesus was betrayed, as He shared in the Passover Celebration with His disciples, He began to prepare them for all that was about to take place. He spoke of His betrayal (John 13:21), pointing out that Judas Iscariot was the one who would betray Him (vs. 26-27), though the other disciples didn’t pick up on it (vs. 28-29).

After Judas left the upper room where they were gathered (v. 30), Jesus told His disciples that God would glorify Him immediately (vs. 31-32), referring to His death and resurrection. He was seeking to reassure them even before these things took place.

Jesus explained that where He was going they couldn’t follow for now (vs. 33, 36), but that He was going to “prepare a place for (them)” (John 14:2) and He would “come again” (v. 3) to take them there. Yet His disciples didn’t seem to understand. Peter even declared that He was ready to die for His Lord (John 13:37). But Jesus told him, “Not now.” He said to Peter, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times” (v. 38). The day was coming when Peter would lay down His life for Jesus, but not now.

It was in this context that Jesus declared, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (v. 34). What does that mean? Ultimately, as Peter experienced later, it could refer to laying down your life for the sake of another, namely Jesus.

Having repeated this same commandment in John 15:12, Jesus added, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (v. 13). But God does not always require this of us. So what does God require of those who love Jesus?

First, He demands obedience to the Word of God. Jesus continued, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14). To be obedient to God’s Word; that is what Jesus requires of you. Follow His commands.

But what does that mean? What is involved with obedience to the Word of God? In John 15:16 Jesus explains: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” And in verse 17, He concluded, “These things I command you, that you love one another.”

Looking again at verse 16, Jesus also told His disciples to remain faithful to Him, to the Lord Jesus. He said, “go and bear fruit.” Tell others about Jesus. Pray for each other’s needs and the Father will give you what you ask. “Whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” Care for one another in every way possible. Whatever resources the Lord has given you, use them for the good of others. Be there for one another in every way you can.

Never let your friend down. Always be willing to lay down your life for your friend, if necessary. In whatever way possible, in whatever way the Lord leads, “love one another” (John 15:17). As Jesus added in John 13:35, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Amen.