John 15:12

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.

John 15:12

Jesus left his disciples with a single command, to love one another as He loved them. He promised them that if they keep this command, they will both remain in his love and be considered not just His servants, but His friends. And the example of His love that was set for them to share among each other was one of self-sacrifice, self-humiliation, and self-denial. Jesus did not hold anything back for them.

Likewise today, Jesus shows us this same love, and also calls us to share this love with others. This is the call of the Christian, the call of the Church, to love others as Christ loves us. 

Christ extended His love to those who shared much in common with Him. Christ also extended His love to those quite different from Him. Even among His disciples whom He directly spoke these words to, there were significant differences. But He showed them all the same love.

The same love that spoke truthfully towards them.

The same love that encouraged them when they were anxious about things beyond their control.

The same love that was patient when they still did not understand what He shared so plainly to them.

The same love that was kind enough to challenge them on their misconceptions. 

The same love that was present to their human needs and condition.

The same love that was willing to bear humiliation in service to them.

The same love that bore the cross for them. 

The same love that then invited them in to share in the sufferings of the cross.

This is the kind of love that Christ has invited each one of us into. A love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7). This love is what Christ longs for us to both enjoy and share in with all others who come to know it. 

May we come to know this love in ever deeper ways. May it impact us deep in our souls. May it form our hearts and minds, turning our affections towards Christ. May this love be the uniting factor across all arrays of differences. May we love each other, and all others, as Christ has so modeled for us.