In John 13:34–35, we receive a new commandment, a new community, and a new commission.

A New Commandment

Jesus calls us to love one another selflessly and sacrificially, considering others’ interests more than our own. This is the way Jesus loved us.

This love is more of an action than an emotion. It’s not based on the work we can do for God but on the work God has done for us. We are called to love others not because they are a benefit to us but because we want to be a benefit to them, even when they may be a burden. If we love like this, we will form a new community.

A New Community

Jesus focuses not just on how we love but on who we love. We are to love “one another.” This phrase doesn’t describe a vague love for humanity in general, but a specific love for a specific people group. It’s a committed, covenantal love rooted and grounded in the life and work of Christ. To love one another in this way can only be applied in the context of a local church community.

This will not always be easy, because the church is made up of an ethnically diverse, economically diverse, and generationally diverse group of people. Jesus is not focused on uniformity but on unity amongst diversity. Rather than sameness, He desires oneness in Him.

This is the way Christ, who is very different from us, has loved us. He who is worthy chose to love the unworthy. He who is holy has loved the unholy. He who is love came to love those who were only good at loving themselves.

A New Commission

Jesus uses our committed membership in a local church and our love for fellow believers as an evangelism strategy. People will see us loving one another and come to Christ.

This means that we must be loving each other all the time throughout our daily lives. Sundays are not a performance for unbelievers; they prepare us to display the Gospel to unbelievers throughout the rest of the week. Unbelievers will not see believers on Sundays, but they will see them at many other times. They will wonder because our relationships are sacrificial rather than transactional. Do your neighbors who don’t know Jesus see you loving other Christians?

Jesus doesn’t just tolerate you; He treasures you. He did not come to die for you after you stopped being selfish and selective with your friendships. He came while you were still sinning and loving yourself. When you put your faith in Him, you’re filled with a Holy Spirit who gives you the ability to love.

You are made from love, for love. Will you commit to love those Christ has already committed to love?