The time had come, Jesus had spent so much time teaching the disciples, revealing his Father to them, and preparing them to take his message of salvation to the world. But this was his last night on earth, and he wanted to make his final words to them count. And he did that by distilling all his wisdom and revelation down into just one ‘new commandment’.
Love one another. First Jesus teaches us to love without expecting anything in return. When Jesus washes his disciples’ feet, it is not in the hopes that they will return the favor. There is no greater proof of God’s love for us than the Cross of Jesus Christ. In the cross we see a new way of love, a love that is selfless, forgiving and compassionate beyond comprehension. Jesus commands us, his disciples, to love one another just as he has loved us. How can we love one another selflessly and with compassion?
Through the victory of the cross and resurrection, we have access to God’s grace and mercy. God gives us new life through the gift of the Holy Spirit, and he fills our hearts with faith, hope and love. Paul the apostle reminds us that ‘God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.’ As we turn to God with trust and obedience, he transforms our hearts and frees us to love others with compassion and kindness. Do you want to bring glory to God in the way you love others?
Jesus devoted himself to teaching us how to live together in love. He knew that everything he said and did contributed to this goal. He longed to pull down all the dividing walls that kept us from treating each other as brothers and sisters created out of love by the same heavenly Father. And now he was about to break the biggest dividing wall: the power of sin.
And now, he would go so far as to offer his own life on the cross to set us free. This is how he loved us: by laying down his life us. And this is how he wants us to love each other, by pouring ourselves out in love for one another.
He is still with us to shower his love on us and to help us love one another in return. So let’s turn to him and receive that love. Let’s fulfil his new commandment!
– Shirley Shigwadja
