A New Love

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” - John 13:34

Have you ever wondered why Jesus calls the command to love one another a “new command” in John 13:34? Why is this new? Love was not a new concept for the disciples. The Old Testament clearly said that you were to love your neighbor and love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. So why was this “a new commandment?”

Even the word Jesus used for “love” was new and unusual – “agape.” It is not a natural or instinctive kind of love, but a spiritual kind of love that goes far beyond anything the human heart could manufacture on its own. It is the kind of love that Jesus demonstrated with His own life, which is why He said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Never before had the world seen or known of love like the love Jesus freely gave.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t suggest this love; He commands it of His followers. Love is not a noun that you feel; it is a verb that you do. It is not a matter of can or can’t; it is a matter of will or won’t. You cannot command a feeling; therefore love is not an emotion. Love may express itself emotionally at times, but that is not a sign of love. Do not confuse liking and loving. Jesus never commands us to like our enemies but to love them. Liking is a feeling and loving is an action. I don’t have to like everybody, but as a Christian, I do have to love everybody.

This new love – agape – refers to an unconditional, self-sacrificing love that does not expect a reward. This love should characterize Christians in our response to God and to each other. John 3:16 gives us the ultimate definition of this love…as an expression of divine grace which means it is undeserved and unmerited. Agape is a love humans cannot give apart from God. This self-sacrificial love was demonstrated for us on the cross and its true expression flows from Christ. It is love divinely inspired by Christ Himself and is founded in unmerited favor. This is how Jesus commanded us to love when He said, “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Father, thank You for Your unmerited grace to me in Jesus. Please help me to love others as You have loved me. In Jesus’ name, amen.