This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35 NABRE
John is sharing with us Jesus’ final testament, what He hopes for the disciples after He is gone. Jesus will tell His disciples many things particularly that He is going away and they cannot come with Him. So he gives instruction on how they should live after he is gone. Jesus most important message is to love one another. Jesus says the Father loves Him and He loves the Father, which Jesus demonstrates through a life of obedience to the Father’s will. Jesus tells them He is giving a new commandment, to love one another. Jesus has given an example of the love He has for them by washing their feet, and now Jesus will give His life out of love for them and all. Jesus challenges them to love one another, follow this new commandment with priority. If they love one another then the world will know that they are truly followers of Jesus. Love is the defining characteristic of a follower of Jesus. Loving each other, and ultimately all others reveals who we are and whose we are. Just as Jesus works reveal the Father and the Son, so will the love for one another reveal that we belong to Jesus. Jesus then demonstrates His love on the cross, saying through His body I will do anything, even excruciating death for those I love.
We can know the words and works of Jesus but if we don’t love, we as Paul says, are just a “resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1) Love is not words but actions, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, clothing the naked, and in this time of isolation love is connecting with those who are alone, reaching out to them and being present. If you celebrated Easter, then you must love one another.
How do you demonstrate love? Who can you call today to make them feel connected?
Love is not words but actions, in this time of isolation love is connecting with those who are alone, reaching out to them and being present. If you celebrated Easter, then you must love one another. Click To Tweet#bible’#godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #love #disciple #John #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray #prayer #goodnews #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways