John 13:35

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another."

Key Reflection

In John 13:35, Jesus issues a profoundly transformative command: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another." This command stands out as distinct from the Old Testament laws and is rooted in Jesus' own example of servant leadership and sacrificial love. Just as he had shown love for his disciples by washing their feet, so too were they to love each other unconditionally—mirroring the selfless and radical nature of Jesus' own actions. This new commandment encapsulates a deeper, more intimate form of relationship and fellowship that is central to Christian faith and practice.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 35. By this shall all men, &c. That is, your love for each other shall be so decisive evidence that you are like the Saviour, that all men shall see and know it. It shall be the thing by which you shall be known among all men. You shall not be known by peculiar rites or habits; not by a peculiar form of dress or manner of speech; not by peculiar austerities and unusual customs, like the Pharisees, the Essenes, or the scribes, but by deep, genuine, and tender affection. And it is well known it was this which eminently distinguished the first Christians, and was the subject of remark by the surrounding pagans.

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