John 13: 31-35 v 34 “I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you.”
Jesus was telling his disciples that He was going away. Like any good parent He had some parting advice to keep them safe whilst He was gone. “I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you.”
On Thursday the verse from revelation told us that following Jesus will lead us to a place where “there won’t be anymore death. There won’t be any grief, crying or pain, because the first things have disappeared.” Our life on earth is only the beginning of our faith journey there is lots more waiting for us after death, praising God will continue forever. To guide us to that place Jesus also gave us a new commandment to love each other “in the same way that I have loved you.”
At the beginning of John 13 Jesus washes the feet of His disciples. When Jesus was hurting after the death of John the Baptist a crowd followed Him and instead of sending them away to deal with his own grief, He ministered to the crowd healing them and then feeding them with all He had, five loaves and two fishes. He talked to women who were foreigners, had committed adultery, who were sex workers, and offered them forgiveness and to never be thirsty again. He blessed little children who came to Him. He noticed the poor widow who gave her all as a donation to the church, far more than the rich people were doing. And He lived in community with others.
Today love all those you meet in the same way as Jesus loves you.
Prayer: Loving God thank you for sending us your Son so that we can see how to love others and know that He stands beside us now and always. Amen.
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