John 13:34. 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.
Thursday of Holy Week is called Maundy Thursday. The word “maundy” means commandment. We call it this because it was on this night of Holy Week that Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment to obey – love one another just as I have loved you.
But Jesus wasn’t giving his disciples one more rule to follow. He was explaining the entire Christian life. This is what life is all about – loving others. Jesus demonstrated his love for them by washing their feet that night. Back then people wore sandals and they walked everywhere. So their feet got very dirty and stinky. Usually the lowest servant would take off everyone’s sandals and wash feet, but on this Thursday night Jesus did it! Jesus took the place of the lowest servant and washed everyone’s feet. Why? To show us what love looks like, what serving looks like, and even what forgiving looks like.
But Jesus didn’t just wash feet on this night. He also ate the Passover Meal with his disciples. Here’s how Luke describes that meal:
Luke 22:14-23. 14And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”23And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
The Passover Meal was eaten to celebrate the Exodus from Egypt. But Jesus makes it clear that he is not celebrating the old Exodus; he is celebrating the new Exodus. An exodus from sin. Jesus calls the bread his body and the wine his blood. He is talking about his death on the cross, where his body will be broken and his blood will be shed.
Look at Luke 22:19 and 20 again. Two little words jump out: for you. My body for you. My blood for you.
This is why Jesus’ new commandment to love one another is not just another commandment added to the list of 613 commands that they already had. It’s not just another rule to follow in order to be good. Loving each other is something that Jesus has already done FOR US. What does this mean?
First, it means that because Jesus loved us first, we can love others knowing that will always be loved by God even if other people don’t love us back.
Second, it means that when we fail to love others the way Jesus wants us to, that OK too, because Jesus has loved other FOR US, in our place. He did perfectly what we do very imperfectly.
Love is not just a rule to follow, it is a whole way to live. And Jesus lived it for us. Yay! The more you really believe this, the more you will want to love others like Jesus.
You: What do you think makes it hard for people to love each other?
You with Jesus: How can you love others by serving them like Jesus did today?
Prayer: Father, I know Jesus keeps all your commands for me, but help me to trust him so much that I want to keep those commands to, and love others like he did. Amen.
TLICfamily 