Suggestion or commandment? Do we know the difference between suggestion and commandment. John 13:34 and 35, which is our Bible Boost for today, Jesus says, “A new command I give to you…LOVE ONE ANOTHER. As I have loved you so must you love one another. By this will all men know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
So is that merely a suggestion or a commandment? If Jesus’ statement is a suggestion that merely means he is hinting, or bringing up an option for our spiritual life and spiritual ministry. You know, kind of like, if you want to you can but if it’s not convenient then you don’t have to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, remember friends, Jesus is talking to a group of guys that has disappointed him in the past and will probably disappoint Him in the future. In this setting it is the last supper. Gathered around the table is a liar, a cheater, a betrayer, a denier, and all of them, when Jesus needs them the most, will flee and reject Him when He is arrested.
So, is Jesus saying to these men, "if you have time, if no one disappoints, if you get around to it, love each other as I have loved you". Well, friends, that is a big resounding NO NO NO!
Here’s the definition of commandment…"it is not optional…it is a mandate". There is no hint, none, zilch, nana, zero, of opting out. Since Jesus said, this is a commandment, there is no opportunity to say, ‘well, let’s talk about it’, "let’s form a committee and discuss it", "if I feel like it", or "if they act like me, dress like me, talk like me", "or go to my church". NO. NO. NO. IT IS A MANDATE. It is not a suggestion but a commandment.
Jesus is telling, all of us Christians, that no matter who offends us, disappoints us, betrays us, cheats us, or even rejects us…the commandment from the King of Kings and Lord of lords is still there in red in the red letter edition of the Bible…Love One Another, the commandment.
Do you remember where He was and what He did before He said these words…even with all those guys around Him: denier, betrayer, rejectors…remember? Yep, HE WASHED THEIR FEET. The King of kings and Lord of lords placed Himself in position to SERVE to show them His love for them.
Let’s look at John 13:1, “…having loved his own who were in the world he showed them the full extent of his love”. Loving others is not just saying it or talking about loving others but it is demonstrating it.
So friends our Bible Boost for today, is for us to look around. There are golden opportunites all around for us to follow this command, not suggestion, of our Lord Jesus. The command is, ‘love one another as I have loved you.” John 13:34-35.
Praying that God will give you and me the courage to risk and reach out to love others.
I am praying for you and your family,
Leonard
I once went to a college where everything was a commandment- and i think that's fine and all- I think that if we know God- really know him- we cant help but love. I think it's an ingenious, sneaky (even) sort of commandment- because if you really, truly love God- it is because we know him.
ReplyDeleteCloser than a lover.
First John is choct-full of this sort of thinking.
and so, if we find ourselves in love with God- we also will love what he loves- because that's how he works- loving people like us so we can learn by example.