John 13:31-35 (NRSV)
Read John 13:31-35 on biblegateway.com
Verse 31When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. Verse 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Verse 33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' Verse 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. Verse 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Devotion
The command to “love one another” would certainly not have been new to Jesus or his disciples. Israel had long been commanded to “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18) Perhaps Jesus is just having a bit of fun with his disciples (and us) by saying, “Now if you actually followed this commandment, that would be new.” Or, more likely, there’s something important in the follow-on instruction, “just as I have loved you.” The disciples’ minds surely would have looked back to Jesus’ very recent, scandalous, and humbling act of love in washing their feet (John 13:3-11). But Jesus’ love is not a discrete, in-the-past action. This “just as I have loved you” is forward looking to Jesus’ very imminent, scandalous, and humbling act of love on the cross. This infusion of Christ’s love for us into the command makes it new by compelling us—and making us able—to love one another.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, your love for this world is as old as creation itself. Wrap us in your self-giving love that we may proclaim your love for all that is through humble service to you, our neighbor, and all creation. Amen.
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