| Yesterday's Bible Study |
Jesus says the words of today's verse at the Last Supper. His disciples surround Him, and He wants to communicate to them the importance of loving each other … important enough that He called it a commandment. Jesus uses Himself as an example by saying they are to love as He has loved them. Today, we will talk about the importance of love and how we can love those around us.
Jesus was serious about the commandment to love--it is a matter of obedience. Love is not something we do because we want to, or because we feel like it. It is a commandment to be obeyed regardless of how we feel, what we want to do, or what seems easiest or most convenient. This is significant because at the time of the Last Supper, the disciples were about to encounter a whole new life; Jesus was about to leave them. The Lord knew they would not be successful at loving other people if they could not love each other, and He underscored the importance of this in John 13:34.
|
|
|
What does loving other people look like? Jesus reminded His disciples how he had demonstrated love to them, and said they should follow His example. Just a few verses before, Jesus washed each of His disciples' feet, which was a very low job that only servants would ever do. In effect, Jesus was showing them what love looked like … disinterest in self and actively serving others.
Loving others means being open to what the Lord is asking us to do for each other, recognizing and meeting needs, and being like Jesus to those who need Him most. We have been loved deeply by the Lord, and it is our privilege to spread His love with our lives.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
