Love One Another

There is something genuinely odd about the history of Christianity; the more we grow and progress in spreading the Gospel, the more it inevitably leads the Church closer to a split. This oddity is not unique to the modern church, as it began to split formally in the 11th Century, with its roots dating back to the 4th Century. This trajectory is evident today in more churches popping up to cater to the specific whims of an evangelical swarm that only wants to exist in its little echo chamber. A divided church is antithetical to the Gospel, for the Gospel intends to unite disparate groups and align with a sacrificial servant sent by the Father to save the world from sin. Jesus came so the world might be saved, not just one small group. Ideological differences will exist, but they were never supposed to divide. After Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and told them about the reality that ideological differences would eventually lead to his betrayal, Jesus still sought to remind the disciples that the old commandment was getting a makeover. Even as Jesus drew nearer to the end of His time with the disciples, he wanted to engrain within them that the core of sharing the Gospel starts with how well they care for and love one another.

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 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. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 13:31–35.

After the departure of Jesus’ betrayer, Judas, Jesus knew it was critical to address the remaining disciples about how the glory of God would be revealed, regardless of how things were going to appear. God’s glory is displayed through sacrifice, even amid betrayal and strife. The betrayal led to arrest, prosecution, and ultimately crucifixion. However, Jesus showed the world that glorification acts in resistance to those seeking worldly power or acclaim. True glory from God was ultimately achieved through Jesus’ impending suffering, death, and subsequent resurrection and exaltation. Jesus’ perfect obedience and love in his self-sacrifice glorify God, while God, in turn, glorifies Jesus. There is no delay in receiving God’s glory because Jesus receives it already on the cross, and thus provides a lens that allows us to recognize that the cross points toward the resurrection and ultimate ascension. God’s ultimate act of love for humanity was demonstrated on the cross, and the glory of God was gifted to us in the resurrection.

As the cross came nearer to ending the time the disciples had with Jesus, Jesus understood the immediacy of the message he had to deliver. Similarly, we don’t get infinite opportunities to share the Gospel, so we must make the most of every moment. Whether it be a move, a life situation change, or even death, there is a temporary nature to our relationships that we should never take any encounter for granted. For the disciples, this is shown through the reality that they cannot immediately follow him to the glory He is about to enter, emphasizing the unique nature of his journey through death and resurrection. While some of us have spent years following Christ, many have not, and may not immediately come to faith, but they will remember how we treated them and how we treat one another. Therefore, we need to allow this to be the Gospel that people take with them wherever they go. Turning back to Jesus, He referred to the disciples as His little children, not as an insult, but in an endearing manner, because they relied upon Him. Thus, Jesus wanted to make the most of the time he had left, so that they would understand how to love like he loved them. So too must the church make the most out of every moment we have with people and love them.

The old becomes new as Jesus shows us that the most crucial way we disciple one another and share the Gospel is by LOVING ONE ANOTHER. The defining characteristic of this new commandment is the standard set: “as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34 ESV). The elevation of the standard of love now goes beyond the Old Testament command to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Christ’s sacrificial love, demonstrated in the foot washing and soon to be completed on the cross, becomes the model. This love is not merely sentimental but involves tangible actions, self-sacrifice, and unity within the Christian community. The absence of such love can be a stumbling block to those outside the faith. Jesus declares, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35 ESV). Mutual love within the community of believers becomes the distinguishing mark of Christian identity, a powerful witness to the world.

Jesus delivers this command to the disciples at a time when he knows that there are forces out there that will thrive on the disintegration of the core through turning on each other, especially since this happens in the aftermath of Judas leaving the group to complete his betrayal. Thus, the disciples are vulnerable and need encouragement from Jesus at this critical juncture. Now, we must take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to hear what Jesus tells us in this passage and work to reverse the trend of church splits and failures, bringing a Gospel message that speaks volumes to a divided world. We start by loving one another, even if we think differently. We don’t just give lip service to loving one another, but genuinely reach out and show them love. Our generation of believers needs to be truly counter-cultural, defeat the rampant division, and embrace Jesus’ command to love one another. Through these actions, the Gospel may be seen as effective and powerful, drowning out the hateful divisiveness of certain parts of Christianity and the rest of the world.