(By guest blogger Cyndi Carter)
“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.” (John 13:34-35)
Today is Maundy Thursday, maundy being the Latin for “command”. These words from John 13 are very familiar, and are probably being quoted at many a service tonight.. They are part of what we call the “Upper Room Discourse” where Jesus is sharing His last Passover meal with His disciples.
One of His last commands, and desires of His heart, was that we love each other. So what does it mean to love one another? There’s a whole list of “one anothers” in scripture. For instance, we’re to be devoted to and to honor one another (Romans 12:10), live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16), accept one another (Romans 15:17), carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), and to bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2). And there are others on the list.
Jesus said that everyone would know that we are His disciples if we loved one another. But loving each other takes time and effort. John and I have previously quoted Mike Yaconelli when he said that Christians would be the only group of people who have time for others. This means making time for someone else, laying aside our own agendas to be with someone else, laying aside our agenda that we’re always right (and everybody’s gonna know it!). Living as if these really are our brothers and sisters.
When Jesus shed His blood on Good Friday, one thing He did was to make all of us who call on His name real live blood-kin. Not just a saying, but in reality. Let all of us who trust Jesus live as He asked us to live, and love each other like we’re really kin to each other. And let it spread to those who don’t know Him yet.
“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.” (John 13:34-35)
Today is Maundy Thursday, maundy being the Latin for “command”. These words from John 13 are very familiar, and are probably being quoted at many a service tonight.. They are part of what we call the “Upper Room Discourse” where Jesus is sharing His last Passover meal with His disciples.
One of His last commands, and desires of His heart, was that we love each other. So what does it mean to love one another? There’s a whole list of “one anothers” in scripture. For instance, we’re to be devoted to and to honor one another (Romans 12:10), live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16), accept one another (Romans 15:17), carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), and to bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2). And there are others on the list.
Jesus said that everyone would know that we are His disciples if we loved one another. But loving each other takes time and effort. John and I have previously quoted Mike Yaconelli when he said that Christians would be the only group of people who have time for others. This means making time for someone else, laying aside our own agendas to be with someone else, laying aside our agenda that we’re always right (and everybody’s gonna know it!). Living as if these really are our brothers and sisters.
When Jesus shed His blood on Good Friday, one thing He did was to make all of us who call on His name real live blood-kin. Not just a saying, but in reality. Let all of us who trust Jesus live as He asked us to live, and love each other like we’re really kin to each other. And let it spread to those who don’t know Him yet.
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