But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5: 8)
Jesus’ command to “love one another” wasn’t anything new to his disciples. It was written in the Torah (Leviticus 19: 18), for every Hebrew man and boy to read. Rabbis taught it to their students. Fathers taught it to their sons, and I imagine mothers taught it to their daughters as well.
Maybe there was a lilt in Jesus’ voice when he told his disciples, “You’ve heard it said… love one another. But now, NOW… here’s your lesson in Loving 601! Love each other as I have loved you.” This is graduate-level discipleship! Jesus raised the standard of expectation for those who professed to follow him, and it was as radical in theory as it would be in practice.
There it was — the ideal! It required a new way of thinking; a new way of orienting oneself toward “Others:” Others who were political enemies; Others who worshiped other gods; Others who would use their power and political influence to eradicate the revolutionary little band of Christ-followers. Loving enemies? Doing good to those who harassed and betrayed them? Praying God would bless them?
Jesus’ addendum of “just as I have loved you” foreshadowed his very imminent, scandalous, and humbling act of love on the cross. Any Christian’s intentional act of love toward an Other is motivated by Jesus’ intentional acts of love toward us “… while we were still sinners.” His love for you, and for me, and for all the “Others,” is as old as creation itself, and that love compels and enables us to love each Other as he loves us.
My prayer for you is that you will sense the Holy Spirit enveloping you, consoling you, and assuring you of Jesus’ love for you, and that you will respond in humble service and love for Others.