The Mark of Authenticity

As we get closer to Resurrection Sunday, lets reflect on what Jesus said was the authentic mark of a Christian. We find it in John 13:34-35.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35 NIV

The command to love might not seem like a new command, but the type of love is. As we go into chapter 14, we see that this kind of love is an obedient love (14:15, 21,23-24, 31, 15:10). But it is more than that…

Jesus goes back to the “new” command , and gives His disciples, and us, some clarity on what His kind of love is (Found in John 15:12-13)

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

John 15:12-13 NIV

We are to love one another as Jesus loves us.

Jesus loves us so much that He was willing to sacrifice everything! He was in heaven being worshiped, but He chose to come and live as one of us, that He might be a sacrifice for us (and all who believe). He was shamed, ridiculed, beaten, and crucified. All of this for love.

This is His kind of love.

This is the kind of love that we, as His followers, have been called to. He shares this command in John 15:15 as well. In His final discourse with His disciples, His call to love is woven throughout it. His command to love is embedded in it. It should be embedded in us too.

Lord, help us to love like You love. This is hard for us, as we tend to be a selfish people. Help us to be the example that You were for us, that people might know You!

(Tomorrow we will look deeper into just how far you were willing to go for love)