February 18, 2021

John 13:34-35, “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. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What is new about this commandment? It has, after all, been given as a commandment before (Lev. 19, etc.). It is new in the sense that Jesus is about to show them a self-sacrifice that would have been unimaginable prior to this moment. He will give his life for them, and they then were to give their lives for Christ and for each other, some of whom would experience death as a result of their faith. That degree of love would be “new,” but it’s also the thing that convinced unbelievers all over the ancient world to the truth of the gospel: the way they loved one another. Here is what Tertullian (3rd century) wrote about the love of early Christians:

“It is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. ‘See,’ they say, "[see] how they love one another, . . . How they are ready even to die for one another!’ No tragedy causes trouble in our brotherhood, [and] the family possessions, which generally destroy brotherhood among you, create fraternal bonds among us. One in mind and soul, we do not hesitate to share our earthly goods with one another. All things are common among us.”

Think of your love for the church - for its members. Who do you need to show love towards, someone who needs a loving friend right now?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, shape our hearts like yours. Help us to deeply ingrain this command in our hearts; that we would respond to your self-giving love for us by giving of ourselves for each other. Amen.

40 Days of Joy: There are trees in California that are over 2500 years old. They can reach 380 ft. in the air and are 30 feet in diameter. Redwoods are fractals, meaning they reproduce themselves in the air. On huge buttresses halfway up the trees, a perfect replica of the original tree grows upward, a smaller version of the first, complete with its own soil. You can hear about this awesome phenomenon here: https://www.ted.com/talks/richard_preston_the_mysterious_lives_of_giant_trees#t-574391