Verse of the Day
Saturday, February 14, 2026
John 13:34-35
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Introduction
At the heart of the Christian moral life lies a single, sweeping directive: to love. Yet, in our modern context, the word "love" has been stretched to mean everything from romantic infatuation to polite tolerance. In John 13:34-35, Jesus reclaims and redefines this word, anchoring it not in emotion, but in the gritty reality of his own life and impending death. This passage, often called the Mandatum Novum (New Commandment), provides the definitive identifying mark of the Christian. It suggests that the primary apologetic of the faith—the way the world will know who belongs to Jesus—is not found in our arguments, our buildings, or our political influence, but in the quality of our relationships with one another.
Understanding the Context
To grasp the weight of these words, we must look at when they were spoken.
The Farewell Discourse: These verses appear at the beginning of the "Farewell Discourse" (John 13–17), Jesus’ final, intimate instructions to his disciples before his arrest. The setting is the Last Supper. Jesus has just finished washing the disciples' feet—a shocking act of servitude—and has predicted his betrayal.
The Departure of Judas: Immediately prior to verse 34, Judas Iscariot leaves the room to betray Jesus. The text notes ominously, "And it was night" (13:30). The community has been purified; only the faithful remain. In the shadow of betrayal and the cross, Jesus turns to those who are left and gives them their marching orders.
The Old Standard: The disciples would have been familiar with the command to love. Leviticus 19:18 commanded the Israelites to "love your neighbor as yourself." However, that standard used self-love as the measuring stick. Jesus is about to shift the paradigm entirely.
Commentary
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another." (v. 34a)
Why does Jesus call this "new"? Love was certainly present in the Old Testament. The "newness" here is likely twofold. First, it inaugurates the New Covenant promised by prophets like Jeremiah—a covenant written not on stone tablets, but on the heart. Second, the scope and source of this love are being radically redefined. It is no longer just a legal obligation; it is the natural outflow of a new life in Christ.
"Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." (v. 34b)
This is the crux of the commandment. The standard for love is no longer "as you love yourself" (which can be selfish, flawed, or limited), but "as I have loved you."
How did Jesus love them?
Sacrificially: He gave up his status and rights (Philippians 2).
Servant-heartedly: He washed their feet, doing the work of a slave.
Unconditionally: He loved Peter, knowing Peter would deny him; he loved the disciples, knowing they would scatter.
This clause raises the bar from "fairness" to "sacrifice." It changes love from a feeling we have for those we like, into an act of will for those who may not deserve it.
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (v. 35)
Here, Jesus establishes the mark of authenticity. In the first century, different philosophical schools or religious sects were often identified by their dress, their dietary restrictions, or their rituals. Jesus strips all of that away. The "badge" of a Christian is strictly relational. The world is watching the community of believers, and the credibility of the Gospel message stands or falls on the visible evidence of their love for one another.
Application for Today
The Church as a Counter-Culture: In a culture driven by polarization, "cancel culture," and tribalism, the church is called to be a counter-culture. This commandment forces us to ask difficult questions about our church communities. Do we love those with whom we disagree politically? Do we care for the difficult people in our pews? When the world looks at the church, do they see a group of people who love each other better than the world does, or do they see the same infighting found everywhere else?
Love as Action, Not Sentiment: "As I have loved you" implies that love is active. It is not merely "thoughts and prayers" or warm feelings. It involves:
presence (showing up for others),
sacrifice (giving of time and resources), and
forgiveness (absorbing the cost of someone else's wrong).
The Witness of Unity: We often think evangelism is primarily about handing out tracts or inviting people to services. However, verse 35 suggests that our unity is the evangelism. When we gossip, slander, or divide, we are not just being "bad people"; we are actively dismantling the witness of Christ to the world. Conversely, when we forgive and support one another, we make the invisible God visible.
Reflection
The "New Commandment" is terrifyingly simple and impossibly high. If we are honest, we must admit that we cannot generate this kind of love on our own. We cannot love "as Jesus loved" without the Spirit of Jesus living within us.
This commandment serves as a mirror, revealing our selfishness, but also as a map, guiding us toward true life. It reminds us that our spiritual maturity is not measured by how much theology we know, how often we attend church, or how strictly we follow rules. It is measured by how we treat the person sitting next to us. Ultimately, this command is an invitation to participate in the life of God—who is love—and to let that love spill over into a world desperate for the genuine article.
The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Verse of the Day is a daily inspirational and encouraging Bible verse, extracted from BibleGateway.com. Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM.
No comments:
Post a Comment