Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

December 26, 2004

THE NEW COMMANDMENT FOR THE NEW YEAR

John 13:34,35

In this pen pulpit for the new year I can’t think of a more appropriate subject than THE NEW COMMANDMENT as taught by our LORD in John 13:34, 35.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Note the facets contained in this commandment:

It’s Uniqueness

New, not in time – not recent, but in quality – in form. Fresh in experience. Opposite of “worn out.” Love would take on a new meaning and power in relation to Jesus going to the cross. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, love would have a new power in their lives.

It’s Recipients

The disciples. This love, however, does not include just the twelve disciples. It begins there but transcends the twelve to include all who would become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:1).

It’s Pattern

“That you love one another – even as I have loved you.” This I take is referring to believers. The New Testament is replete with admonitions to Christians to love each other. How did Jesus love us?

• First of all He loves us with a Practical Love (Ephesians 5:26). When a need arises in our lives that we cannot handle, He meets that need. For example, our bodies are growing weak: Jesus provides strength. If there is an area in our live that needs direction, He provides leading. There are many, many examples. You can make the application.

• Second, He demonstrates a Sacrificial Love for us (John 3:16; Hebrews 9:26). Our greatest need is forgiveness of sins. This is why Jesus came: to die on a cross – to sacrifice Himself that we might live. It may or may not mean giving our life for a fellow believer, but it does mean we must be willing to sacrifice time and money to render aid to a believer who has a need. John writes in I John 3:17, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” However, I believe in order to sacrifice in this way, we must understand the extent of the sacrifice of Jesus for us.

It’s Effect

The effect is evangelical. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jesus gets right to the point. He doesn’t pull any punches. He told His disciples that their community love would communicate a message to all men. The message is that men by observing this special quality of love among fellow believers would know and understand that they were followers of Christ. This kind of love is to “serve as a distinguishing characteristic of discipleship” (MacArthur). This love is produced through the New Covenant by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 31:29-34; Ezekiel 36:24-26, Galatians 5:22).

Love is the badge of the Christian. As Dr. Curtis Mitchell liked to say, “Let’s all wear the badge!”

God bless and have a blessed New Year.

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