Through his suffering, death on the cross, and resurrection, Jesus has brought forth a new creation. In Christ, we are made new, starting a new beginning, a new life, and a renewed relationship with God. The Apostle Paul expresses this in his letter to the Corinthians: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

This new creation comes with a new covenant, a new commandment, and a new commission. The new commandment is: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).

Previously, the command was to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30). But Jesus raised the standard — to love as He has loved. He exemplified perfect love throughout His life, loving His disciples to the very end. Now, they were to love one another as He had loved them. What is distinctive about Jesus’ love? There are three key aspects:

Personal Identification:
Jesus personally identified with humanity. He came to dwell among us, and even after His resurrection, He continues to identify with the poor, needy, and rejected. He is not a distant observer or a passive bystander but a compassionate participant in our struggles.

Selfless Service:
Jesus committed Himself to serving others. Even after his resurrection, he served his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, preparing breakfast for them by baking bread and grilling fish (John 21:9-13). He continues to serve his people.

Willing Sacrifice:
Jesus willingly sacrificed Himself for us. The wages of sin is death, but in His mercy, God provided Jesus as our substitute. Through faith in Christ, we receive forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Jesus perfectly demonstrated this love.

Having experienced this profound love, we are called to extend it to others. Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” May the Lord empower us to love with the same selfless, sacrificial love! God bless!

During the Sunday service, we reflected on the new commandment that Jesus gave on the night he was arrested. He loved his disciples to the very end and demonstrated true love. We discussed what is unique about Jesus’ love, how it differed from other kinds of love, and how we could follow this commandment.