THE VOICE OF LOVE

TEXT: John 13:34-35
34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

In our text this morning Jesus commands us to live in love. This is not a suggestion but a command. It therefore behoves us to take this command very seriously. Now we notice that He calls it "A new commandment". How new is it? Jesus Himself already acknowledges that the greatest of the Old Testament law that had been in operation for more than 2000 years then was the commandment to "Love thy neighbour as thyself" ( Mar 12:31, Lev 1918 )

The new commandment of Jesus is new because it is different in quality. Paul, in Galatians 6:2 calls it the law of Christ. The Old Testament laws demand that we love our neighbour AS OURSELVES. Now this law allows for the principle of retribution (an eye for an eye). But the commandment of Jesus is that we should love 'AS I HAVE LOVED YOU". Thus the quality of our love should be the type of love that Jesus has for us. We are to love our brethren as Jesus love us. How does Jesus Love us?

The quality of Jesus' is that he love us to the extent of giving up himself us to die for us. This is unique. It does not allow for retribution. In fact it is the justification for our turning the other cheek when struck in one. "We are to resist not evil" (Matt 5:39). We are tho

Now Jesus says this is how men will know that we are His disciples. That means that it is our mark of identification before men. A true mark of identification  must be unique and distinguish from all others. Love is unique to the Disciples of Jesus. No one else is capable of the Jesus type of love but His disciples.  This is how we know what love is. Christ gave his own life and he died for us. This shows us how we should really love other people. We ought to give our lives for other Christians (1 John 3:16 EasyEnglish Bible Version)

The scriptures shows us how to fulfil this law of Christ. Gal 6:2 says Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. What this means is that you should make up for the weakness of others and not emphasise it. If a brother has a problem with pride, you are not to tempt his pride by flattery or get irritated when he displays it. Rather we are to spend ourselves in intercession for him and counseling him in love when we have the opportunity

The second way of fulfilling the law of Jesus is as shown in 1John 3:17 -18"But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." Sharing our resources with those that don't have is our manifestation of the Love of God.

Now Jesus says it is our mark of identification with Him. A mark of identification is unique. Thus this love is the one feature that is unique with the disciples of Jesus. It cannot be counterfeited or feigned by others. This is because the Holy Spirit is the source and He gives it to all the disciples of Christ and them alone. The bible says " because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Rom 5:5). Beloved we have the capacity to love the way Jesus did. Let us engage this unique power within us and become like God. This is how to manifest the Divine Nature (1John 4:16-17)

PRAYERS
Father thank you for giving me the unique ability to love as You do

Father I believe that your Spirit has shed the Love of Christ abroad in our heart

I receive grace to love as God does in Jesus Name

Father let your Spirit help your church to manifest this love of Christ

Father help us to shed the light of Christ around the Nations of the world

FURTHER STUDY
1Jn 3:14-18
1Jn 2:8-10

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Genesis 16, Psalms 9, Luke 9:28-62