Love is the highest calling of the Christian life. In John 13:34–35, Jesus gives His disciples a profound command, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
This command is not merely a suggestion or an emotional response, it is a defining mark of Christian identity. To love as Christ loves is to reflect His heart, His humility, and His sacrifice.
What makes this commandment “new” is not the idea of loving others, that had already been taught in the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:18). What is new is the standar “as I have loved you.” Jesus redefined love not as mere affection or duty, but as self-giving, sacrificial, and unconditional care. His love was seen in washing His disciples’ feet (John 13:5), in forgiving their failures, and ultimately in laying down His life on the cross. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).
To love others as Christ loves us means embracing people in their brokenness, just as Christ embraced us in ours. Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” His love was not conditional on our performance, worthiness, or gratitude. Similarly, we are called to love even those who are difficult, ungrateful, or hostile, because that is how Jesus loves. This kind of love confronts our pride and selfishness, calling us into a deeper walk of grace and compassion.
Loving others is not optional for believers, it is a command that reveals our relationship with Christ. 1 John 4:7–8 says, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Genuine love is the fruit of knowing God. We cannot claim to walk with Christ and yet harbor hatred, unforgiveness, or indifference toward others. Love proves the authenticity of our faith.
Moreover, Christian love is active, not passive. It goes beyond words and intentions into practical action. 1 John 3:18 urges us, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Loving as Christ loves means feeding the hungry, forgiving the offender, encouraging the weary, and standing with the oppressed. It means showing mercy when judgment feels easier, and seeking peace when conflict arises. Love does what is right, even when it is inconvenient or costly.
Love is also the glue that binds the Christian community together. Colossians 3:14 says, “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Without love, our spiritual gifts, knowledge, and service become empty. As 1 Corinthians 13:1 so powerfully states, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal”. Love gives meaning and depth to all that we do in Christ’s name.
Loving others as Christ loves also becomes a witness to the world. Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” The world takes notice when believers love each other genuinely and sacrificially. In a culture marked by division, selfishness, and hostility, Christian love shines as a beacon of hope and truth. It draws others toward Christ, not just through our words, but through the beauty of our relationships.
In conclusion, the command to love as Christ loves is at the heart of the Christian faith. It challenges us, transforms us, and distinguishes us. It is a love rooted in grace, modeled by the cross, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. As we grow in Christ, may we continually learn to love more deeply, forgive more freely, and serve more joyfully. In doing so, we fulfill the very law of Christ and become living testimonies of His love in a hurting world.
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