What does “loving one another” look like as Jesus loves us
John 13 is the first of five chapters of John's Gospel which are called Discourses of the Upper Room. Jesus spent his last days and hours conversing significantly with his disciples to prepare them for his death and resurrection, and also to prepare them to preach the gospel and establish the church. At the beginning of the 13th chapter, Jesus washed the disciples' feet, continued to predict his death and the denial of Peter and taught this radical disciple to the disciples:
“A new command that I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, you too must love one another "(John 13:34).
What does "Love one another as I have loved you" mean?
Jesus was accusing his disciples of what seemed impossible. How could they love others with the same unconditional love that Jesus has shown many times? Her disciples were shocked when Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman (see John 4:27). The twelve disciples may have been part of the group of followers who tried to keep the children away from seeing Jesus (see Matthew 19:13). They have failed to love others in the same way that Jesus loved others.
Jesus knew all their shortcomings and growing margins, but he continued to give them this new command to love one another just as he loved them. This command to love was new in the sense that the disciples would have power in a new way to realize the same type of love that Jesus had shown - a love that included acceptance, forgiveness and compassion. It was a love marked by altruism and by placing others above themselves, a love that transcended even normalization and cultural expectations.
To whom is Jesus speaking in this verse?
In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples. At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus had affirmed the two greatest commandments (see Matthew 26: 36-40), the second was to love others. Again, in the upper room with his disciples, he taught about the greatness of love. In fact, as Jesus went on, he made clear that their love for others would be what sets them apart. Their love for others would be precisely what marked them as believers and followers.
Before Jesus made this statement, he had just finished washing the disciples' feet. Washing your feet was a common practice for visiting guests in the time of Jesus, but he was a low-esteemed servant who would have been assigned such a task. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, demonstrating both his humility and his great love.
This is what Jesus did before instructing his disciples to love others as he loved them. He waited until after washing his disciples' feet and predicting his death to make this statement, because both washing his feet and laying down his life were intrinsically linked to the way his disciples had to love others.
As much as Jesus was speaking with his disciples in that room, through the Scriptures passed down from generation to generation, Jesus has given this command to all believers from then until now. Still true today, our unconditional and altruistic love will be the thing that also distinguishes believers.
Do the different translations influence the meaning?
The verse is constantly translated between the different English versions of the Bible with few variations. This uniformity between the translations reassures us that the verse is clear and precise in the way it is interpreted and therefore pushes us to consider what it means for us to love as Jesus loved.
AMP:
“I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I loved you, you too must love one another. "
ESV:
"A new commandment that I give you, that you love one another: just as I loved you, you too must love one another."
NIV:
“A new command that I give you: love one another. How I loved you, so you have to love each other. "
NKJV:
“A new commandment that I give you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "
NLT:
“So now I'm giving you a new commandment: love one another. Just like I loved you, you should love yourself. "
How will others know that we are disciples of our love?
After Jesus instructed his disciples with this new command, he explained that when they love as he loved, this is how others would know that they are his followers. This means that when we love people just like Jesus loves us, they too will know that we are his disciples because of the radical love we show.
The scriptures teach that we should be different from the world (see: Romans 12: 2, 1 Peter 2: 9, Psalm 1: 1, Proverbs 4:14) and how we love is an important indicator of being separated as followers of Jesus.
The early church was often known for the way it loved others and their love was a testament to the validity of the gospel message that attracted people to give life to Jesus. These early Christians shared a gospel message that transformed life and shared a type of love that transforms life. Today, as believers, we can allow the Spirit to work through us and demonstrate the same self-giving and selfless love that will attract others to Jesus and serve as a powerful testimony to the power and goodness of Jesus.
How does Jesus love us?
The command to love others in this verse was certainly not a new command. The novelty of this command is found in the condition not only of loving, but of loving others as Jesus loved. Jesus' love was sincere and sacrificial until death. Jesus' love was selfless, countercultural and good in every way. Jesus instructs us as his followers to love in the same way: unconditional, sacrificial and sincere.
Jesus walked on this earth teaching, serving and embracing people. Jesus broke down barriers and hatred, approached the oppressed and marginalized and invited those who wanted to follow him to do the same. For his sake, Jesus spoke the truth about God and preached a message of repentance and eternal life. His great love has prompted his last hours to be arrested, brutally beaten and murdered. Jesus loves each of us so much that he went to the cross and left his life.
How can we show that love to others?
If we consider the greatness of Jesus' love, it may seem almost impossible to demonstrate the same kind of love. But Jesus sent his spirit to authorize us to live as he lived and to love as he loved. Loving how Jesus loves will require lifelong learning, and every day we will make that choice to follow his command.
We can show others the same kind of love that Jesus showed by being humble, selfless and serving others. We love others as Jesus loved by sharing the gospel, taking care of the persecuted, orphans and widows. We show the love of Jesus by bringing the fruit of the Spirit to serve and take care of others, instead of indulging our flesh and putting us first. And when we love as Jesus loved, others will know that we are truly his followers.
It is not an impossible education
What an honor that Jesus welcomes us and authorizes us to love as he loves. This verse must not seem an impossible instruction. It is a gentle and revolutionary push to walk in its ways rather than ours. It is an invitation to love beyond ourselves and to focus on the interests of others instead of only on our desires. Loving as Jesus loves means that we will live the most fulfilling and satisfying versions of our life knowing that we have promoted the kingdom of God rather than leaving our inheritance.
Jesus modeled humility as he lovingly washed the disciples' feet, and when he went to the cross, he made the greatest sacrifice for love known to mankind. We will not have to die for the sins of every human being, but since Jesus did, we have the opportunity to spend an eternity with him, and we have the opportunity to love others here and now with pure and selfless love.