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 The New Commandment (April 23, 2024)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

After hosting the Last Supper, humbly washing His disciples’ feet, and identifying the one who would betray Him, Jesus commanded His followers to love and serve one another. As His crucifixion drew near, this command by the LORD to His followers demonstrated His love for them as expressed through the act of washing their feet, thereby giving them an example of meekness and service to humanity to follow.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11)

Practicing this new commandment to love each other as Christ loves us is the mark that defines who we are as believers and modern-day disciples of Christ. It is not optional; Jesus has commanded His followers to love one another as they are loved by Him. In this way alone the world sees Christ in us and lost sinners are drawn out of worldly darkness into our LORD’S everlasting light as we seek to follow Jesus’ final command to make new disciples.

 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)



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