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“I am giving to you [disciples] a new commandment,1 so that you may love one another just as I loved all of you,2 so you may love one another.”3
| 1 | New commandment: Or, new command. It is new because it goes beyond the Law’s “love your neighbor as yourself.” It is a self-sacrificing love that goes beyond love for self and includes a greater love. [Compare notes on 1 John 2:7,9 and 2 John 5 in Nazarene Commentary 2000©.] |
| 2 | So that you may love one another just as I loved all of you: Here is the qualifier: a love like that demonstrated by Jesus – a love willing to sacrifice self for others. [John 15:9; Ephesians 5:2] Compare notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000© on 1 Corinthians chapter 13. |
| 3 | Love one another: Compare notes on 1 John 3:14, 23 in Nazarene Commentary 2000©. [Leviticus 19:18; John 15:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; James 2:8; 1 Peter 1:22] |
Dear Friends of the Nazarene,
We choose John 13:34 as the theme verse of chapter thirteen – Love One Another. The final actions of our Master’s life moves to the upper room and the Last Passover. [1-11] There Jesus tells his apostles that all among them are ‘clean’ save one. He washes the feet of the disciples to demonstrate the need for humility among them. By this he set a pattern for the apostles. [12-20] Satan enters Judas and he departs to betray Jesus. [21-30] Now, among the eleven loyal apostles, Jesus teaches them a new commandment regarding self-sacrificing love. [31-35] Jesus warns Peter that he will not be willing to surrender his life for his Master but deny him three times. [36-38]
Abba our Father bless those who love after the manner of our Master.
[11 December 2002]
