A New Commandment

If we are to love as Christ has loved us, we must know how he has loved us!

A Love that Serves

Jesus served through not just word, but action.

1 John 3:16–18 ESV

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

A Love that Sacrifices

Jesus sacrificed in the face of betrayal and denial.

1 John 4:7–11 ESV

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

He knew that Judas would betray him (John 6:70-71) a year and a half before, yet he still washed his feet and offered himself.

He knew that Peter would deny him in weakness, yet he still loved Peter!

A Love that is Supernatural

Perfect love casts out fear.

Peter was ultimately changed by the love of Christ through redemption and the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 4:17–19 ESV

17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.

Jesus assured Peter of his purpose:

1 John 3:23 ESV

23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.