The Bible emphasizes two fundamental commandments: to love God and to love one another. But how do we love? What is the standard? God’s love for us serves as the benchmark; He loved us even when we were His enemies. His love was demonstrated to us when we least deserved it. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Therefore, His love surpasses any love we can express.
Our human love often comes with expectations, demands, or conditions. If these expectations are not met, our love may falter. However, God’s love for us is unconditional, never-ending, and unwavering. The commandment given by God was, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). This command sets the standard for love, based on how we love ourselves, which varies from person to person.
Towards the end of His ministry, Jesus introduced a new commandment: “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another” (John 13:34). This commandment was new because now the disciples could refer to the love of Jesus. They had experienced this love physically, emotionally, and mentally. Jesus demonstrated His love in various ways:
- He was always welcoming, receiving, and embracing, as He said, “…anyone who comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37). Despite people’s choices to reject Him, He never rejected anyone.
- He loved His disciples until the end: “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1). Even knowing that Judas would betray Him, Jesus continued to love him, providing him with the opportunity to repent till the end.
- His love is sacrificial and self-giving . He loved us so much that He willingly endured suffering, was crucified, and rose again from the dead.
This is the love we experience in Jesus, and this is the love we should show to others. May the Lord help us to understand this love and to live it out in our lives! God bless!