A New Commandment: Love One Another

When you hear the word “love,” what comes to mind? For many of us, it’s the kind of romantic love sung about in pop songs—the kind that longs to hold on to someone who makes life feel whole. Romantic love is a gift, but the Bible describes a far deeper and more enduring kind of love: a love that gives, serves, and sacrifices—even when nothing is given in return.

In John 13:31–38, Jesus gathers His disciples in the Upper Room and gives them a new commandment: “Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (v.34). Love was not new—Scripture had long commanded God’s people to love their neighbors. But Jesus deepened and redefined love by pointing to the cross as the ultimate example. If you want to know what God’s love looks like, look at the cross.

Love Has a New Shape

As Judas leaves to betray Him, Jesus declares that His hour of glory has come. That glory would be revealed in His suffering and death. On the cross, we see both the justice of God (sin punished) and the love of God (Jesus taking our place). This is the shape of love we are called to show—self-giving, sacrificial, and unconditional.

Love Has a New Motivation

Jesus didn’t just command love; He demonstrated it. Only moments earlier, He had taken the posture of a servant and washed His disciples’ feet. Soon He would lay down His life for them. John later wrote, “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 Jn 4:10).

Because God loved us first, we are compelled to love one another. This isn’t about warm feelings but about choosing to serve, forgive, encourage, and sacrifice for others in real, tangible ways.

Love Is Our Certification

Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (v.35). Love is the badge that proves we belong to Him. Not perfect church attendance, not how much Bible knowledge we have, not even our gifts or talents—but our love for one another.

When the world looks at the church, it should see a community marked by patience, kindness, forgiveness, and unity. This love crosses generational, cultural, and social lines. It assumes the best in others, serves practically, and embraces people “warts and all.”

The Power to Love

Peter boldly claimed that he would follow Jesus to the end, but within hours he would deny Him three times. His failure reminds us of an important truth: we cannot love like Jesus in our own strength. We need the Spirit of God to transform our hearts and empower us to love with agape love.

Living It Out

At Hope Church, our prayer is that we would be a community where this kind of love is lived out every day—in our families, our small groups, and our friendships. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude… Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

This week, let’s put on the badge of discipleship. Let’s choose to love one another with the same sacrificial love that Jesus has shown us.