Love One Another
In the thirteenth chapter of John Jesus is preparing the apostles for the inevitable. Many memorable things happen in this chapter. Jesus washes the disciples feet (John 13:1-17
) Jesus predicts his betrayal by Judas Iscariot (John 13:18-30) and Jesus predicts Peter’s denial (John 13:31-38) all of which are memorable stories and are told and retold.
Today, as I was reading John 13, something different jumped out. in vv 34-35 Jesus gives a new commandment: Love one another. He goes on to add “As I have loved you, so should you love one another. By THIS everyone will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” What a simple and yet complex statement. Not just love one another, but love one another as I have loved you. The implied “unconditional” looms overhead like an individual cloud.
For many years I, like Peter, didn’t hear that part of what Jesus was saying, not that Peter didn’t love his fellow disciples, but rather that he focused on the “where I am going you can’t come” part of the speech and immediately responded with ‘What! why can’t I come! I will follow you anywhere.’ which was the cause of Jesus foretelling Peter he would deny Jesus 3 times before the night was over.
But I think Peter, like me, eventually heard the commandment, as is evidenced in 1 Peter 4:8 ”Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. “ some versions say “have fervent love for one another’ The Greek word translated “fervent” in that verse is ektenes literally meaning “stretched to the limit” In other words, Peter like Jesus before him was encouraging us to love to our maximum capacity. He wasn’t talking about loving naturally lovable people or even about a feeling. He was talking about a love that encompasses and overcomes all failures and weaknesses “for love covers a multitude of sins” The sort of love that overcomes differences and sees through the darkness to the Christ light in everyone we meet.
Prayer…
Heavenly Father, thank you for your love, for the ability to love others, and the challenge to love them as you have loved me. Protect me from the temptation to be judgmental and cynical and strengthen my heart that I might be able to stretch it to a greater capacity. In your son’s name. Amen
