July 1, 2025
Love One Another: Jesus' Command for Powerful Living
In John 15:12-17, Jesus gives us a profound command that forms the foundation of Christian community. This command isn't just a suggestion or a good idea—it's the very heart of how Jesus wants His followers to live.
What does Jesus command us to do?
"This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you." When Jesus uses the word "commandment" (in Greek, "intole"), He's not giving a cold, legalistic rule. This isn't just an order from an authority figure. Instead, it's deeply relational and covenantal. Jesus is inviting us into a loving relationship where obedience flows naturally from intimacy.
The command is simple yet profound: love one another. But how exactly are we supposed to love?
How are we supposed to love one another?
Jesus immediately answers this question: "Greater love has no one than this, that one laid down his life for his friends." Jesus doesn't just tell us what to do—He shows us. He points toward His coming sacrifice on the cross. Before asking us to love sacrificially, He demonstrated it Himself. As Romans 8 reminds us, "while we were yet still sinners, Christ died for us."
This is crucial to understand: Jesus isn't saying "do as I say," but rather "do as I do." He modeled sacrificial love before asking us to practice it.
Why is loving one another so important?
In Mark 12, when asked about the most important commandment, Jesus said to love God with everything we have, and then immediately added, "Love your neighbor as yourself." The Christian life is defined by Christlike love—sacrificial and tangible. Scripture tells us "they will know we are Christians by our love." Not by how well we pray, preach, or speak in tongues, but by our love.
This challenges us to ask ourselves:
Are we loving consistently?
Are we loving selflessly?
Are we loving sacrificially?
What does sacrificial love look like in practice?
True love requires sacrifice. It means rearranging your life and schedule to be there for others. It means using your resources to meet needs. It means walking alongside people through their darkest moments.
Consider these examples:
Sitting beside a friend through every chemotherapy treatment
Providing meals when no one else can
Putting up Christmas lights for someone who's ill
Accepting and embracing people despite their past mistakes
Walking with brothers and sisters through their struggles instead of judging them
When we take a legalistic mindset with others, we're often seeking to elevate ourselves. But God's love transcends legalism and covers a multitude of sins. Jesus is about restoration, not condemnation.
What does it mean to be called Jesus' friends?
Jesus elevates His disciples from mere followers to intimate partners in His mission: "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends. For all the things that I have heard from my Father, I've made known to you."
This friendship with Jesus means:
We're invited into intimate partnership with His mission
We're given knowledge of the Father's heart and plans
We're called to reciprocal love—He laid down His life, and we respond with obedient loyalty
Friendship with Jesus is marked by alignment with His will. We trust Him, we love Him, so we obey Him. Obedience isn't the price of entry into relationship with Jesus—it's the fruit of friendship.
Who initiated this relationship?
Jesus makes it clear: "You did not choose me, but I chose you." In Jewish tradition, students would seek out their rabbi, but Jesus flips this paradigm. He took the initiative in our relationship. This is incredibly encouraging! You didn't find Jesus—He found you. Not by accident, but on purpose. And He chose you with a specific purpose: that you would walk in His love and bear lasting fruit.
Life Application
The call to love one another isn't just a nice sentiment—it's a command from Jesus that requires action.
This week, consider these questions:
Who in your life is difficult to love? Ask God for the grace to love them sacrificially, just as Jesus loved you.
Has past hurt made it difficult for you to love freely? If you've been wounded by others, especially those in the church, ask God to heal your heart. Remember, you cannot give what you don't have—you need to receive God's love to share it with others.
What practical sacrifice can you make this week to show love to someone? It might be your time, resources, or simply your presence. Choose one specific action to demonstrate Christ's love.
Are you living as a friend of Jesus? Evaluate whether your life shows alignment with His will and obedience to His commands.
Remember, Jesus took the initiative to love you first. Now He invites you to extend that same love to others. As you do, you'll find yourself bearing fruit that lasts for generations.