“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34 KJV).
It is noteworthy to examine the last things Jesus taught before He went to the cross. Reason being, any good teacher – and Jesus was The Great Teacher – gives that which He wants most remembered at the close of his message. That being the case, lets look at one of the truths He taught in His last days on earth.
For three and a half years, He had been teaching and preaching in the synagogues and healing all that where sick. And here at the last remaining day, He says “a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Verse 35 says, “By this shall all know that ye are my disciples if you have love one to another.”
In this scenario, Jesus is about to leave the earth. He is going to be crucified and offered up to the Father, and He tells the disciples the way the world will know that they belong to Him. The way they are going to know that He is continuing His ministry on this earth is that people see them walking in love towards each other.
We also find that Jesus said this again in John 15:12. In chapter 15 He is having the last supper. He wasn’t just eating. He was giving them His final teaching. Jesus saved the best for last, you could say.
You save the things that you want to remain in the minds of the people until the end. He said, “This is my commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you; greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
This is the second time Jesus had said, “Love one another like I love you.” Well how did He love them? He loved them unconditionally; He accepted them as they were. The Word says that love covers a multitude of faults. He accepted them and helped them with their faults.
Because Jesus is our example, then we are to do the same with other people. We are to accept them just as they are, and if possible help them with their faults. In other words, we are to cover sins, not expose them.
Walking in love, unconditional love, is not demanding your way, but deciding to overlook the frailties and faults of other people, and love them even when they don’t deserve it.
It is a commandment of the Lord. When we do His commandments, then our very lives are a witness to those around us. They will surely know that we are Christians, and that God is love, because we love one another.
Scripture References: Proverbs 10:12; John 15:10-14
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).