The New Commandment

Over the last couple of Sundays, we’ve reflected on some things that Jesus and his disciples encountered in preparation for the passion. We saw that Jesus was anointed for the service that only he could do. We observed that Jesus anointed his disciples to serve by washing their feet - giving them an example.

On Sunday we reflected on the unexpected way that God’s kingdom is revealed and lived out through Jesus - through service.

Tonight, we’re going to look a bit more at some of the ways that Jesus prepared for the passion, specifically during his last meal with his disciples. Service seemed to be the marker of the preparation up to this point, but as Jesus gives the disciples a new command, he doesn’t command them to serve - he commands them to love.

John 13:34 ESV

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.

Let’s reflect on this commandment to love unconditionally. As we do this, we’re going to look at a short passage in John 13 and a longer passage in John 15.

First of all, we need to understand that...

Unconditional love is the marker of Jesus’ people (13:34-35)

John 13:34–35 ESV

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.”

Jesus first gives this command, this new command, right after Judas leaves to go about his business of betrayal. Jesus doesn’t explicitly tell the remaining disciples to love Judas, but in the context of time and the turn of events, I don’t think Jesus intended them to exclude him from their love. On one hand, Judas did betray their Lord and teacher, on the other hand, his act was foretold and became a necessary factor on the way to the cross. In time, Judas would take his own life, but it certainly seemed like the other disciples were to love him still.

In addition to that, Jesus admits that he is going some place where they cannot follow - in his absence, they are to love one another. In the absence of a leader there is often a void. As a result, there would be a selfish desire for people to clamor for first place, and yet rather than being known for their position, Jesus encourages them to be known by love!

We as Jesus people should be known by the way that we love unconditionally.

We could simply romanticize love, but we have to admit that love is difficult. In chapter 15, Jesus seems to acknowledge that. We must recognize that...

Abiding in Jesus and experiencing Pruning from Him results in the fruit of unconditional love. (15:1-11)

John 15:1–11 ESV

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Jesus uses some profound agricultural language in this section. Referring to himself as the vine and us, his disciples, as the branches he acknowledges that we need to remain connected, to abide or to remain in him. He is our source of sustenance. He is our source of spiritual nutrition.

But he also talks about the difficult and sometimes painful work of pruning. When we prune plants, cutting back dead or excess branches, we allow the plant to bear more fruit. The leaves grow stronger, the flowers grow more abundantly, the fruit grows more healthy.

When we abide or remain in Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to do the refining work of pruning in our lives, we get to bear more fruit - and ultimately that fruit will be unconditional love.

What is it that gets pruned? Sometimes it is sinful behaviors or habits. Sometimes it is faulty or incorrect thinking. Sometimes it is attitudes that are out of character for a child of God. Pruning is good and painful but is also a sign of God’s love for us.

Hebrews 12:6 ESV

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

We also get to see that

Unconditional love is commanded and demonstrated by Jesus (15:12-17)

John 15:12–17 ESV

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Jesus doesn’t command us to do something that he is not willing to do himself. He humbled himself. He sacrificed his life for ours. He laid down his life for us.

He then chose us to love one another in the same way, so that God will be glorified.

It kind of begs the question - what is love?

One Bible dictionary defines unconditional love as:

deep affection (Judg. 16:4; 2 Sam. 13:4); 2. compassion, commitment, or devotion (Matt. 5:44; Rom. 13:10; 1 John 3:11–23; 4:16).

(GOD’S WORD Translation. Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group, 1995. Print.)

Let’s reflect on this idea of love by thinking about what it is not...

Love is not -

endorsement of sinful behavior - our society likes to communicate that if we love people when will let them do whatever they want. That’s not true love.

an emotion - it’s an act of the will, it’s a choice, a privilege. it is a commitment.

an option - as a follower of Christ, this is a command from Jesus. He told his disciples here to love each other. Elsewhere he told them to love their enemies and those who persecute them.

Love is -

surrender to God - it’s recognizing the depth of God’s love and affection for us - while we were dead in our trespasses and sins, God sent his son as a sacrifice, he demonstrated that unconditional love. When we love in response, we love in surrender to God - acknowledging that my old way of life and thinking got me into the sin problem that I had before.

sacrifice - It’s not easy to love. Love gives up, loses, releases, gets uncomfortable, looks to the good of others.

service - love is not ashamed to go low, to get down on hands and knees, to serve the object of that affection or commitment or devotion.

We could spend a lot of time reflecting on this, but I want to leave you with one final thought. Service has been a central theme of Jesus preparation for the passion. He demonstrated his love for us through service by laying down his life in exchange for ours. He demonstrated his love through service by washing the disciples feet. He lived his life as an act of service for us, showing us an example for for how we should love and serve others.

Now that he has giving this new command to love, I believe that our service is fueled by love.

When Danielle and I graduated from college, each of the graduates were given a white towel as a symbol of how best we can demonstrate love - through service. I don’t know what happened to that towel. A few years ago I made a towel in order to remember that love and service go hand in hand. I hope that the way that I serve is fueled by love and the love is demonstrated by my service.

Let us love one another, our families, our neighbors, our community through service - just as Jesus did.