In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly prefaced a teaching by saying, “You have heard it said. He demonstrated the compassion and tenderness that God has for mankind-but this was a God that looked nothing like how the Pharisees described Him. The love and patience with which He taught them began to change them. They came to the realization that this was God come to earth. But, in the three years that they followed this new Rabbi, they had experienced the love of God as no one ever had before. They were as rough around the edges, sinful, and selfish as anyone else. They were a mismatched crew of unlikely world-changers: some friends, some relatives, some strangers. The disciples had not started out loving each other. The new commandment to love one another is one we all need. Followers of Christ are recognized by their love for each other. For the first and only time in history, Jesus created a group whose identifying factor is love. Other groups may identify themselves by skin color, by uniform, by shared interests, by adherence to a code of behavior, by alma mater, etc. Jesus created a group identified by one thing: love. In giving the new commandment, Jesus laid the foundation for the formation of a group of people unique in human history. Jesus said the world would be drawn to His message when it saw His followers continuing to love each other. What would it take to impact the world as He had done? It wouldn’t be their speaking abilities, their miracle-working powers, or their courage. Jesus had taught the disciples many things during the three years they had been together, but this new commandment was the final one before He was crucified. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” After Judas was gone, Jesus spoke to the remaining eleven: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. He had watched His traitorous disciple leave the dinner table to complete the evil deed. Jesus revealed the “new commandment” in John 13:34–35, while speaking to His disciples on the night He was betrayed by Judas.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |