March 14: Based on John 13:34: "Love as the hallmark of discipleship"
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
-John 13:34
Have you ever noticed how some things sound simple but are actually revolutionary?
In the quiet of an upper room, just hours before his arrest, Jesus gave his followers what he called "a new commandment." Not a suggestion. Not a life hack. A commandment.
"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
On the surface, it sounds... basic. Love people. Got it. Check the box, move on with life.
But what if I told you these words were designed to completely dismantle and rebuild your entire understanding of what it means to be human? What if this "simple" command is actually the most challenging, counter-cultural, and transformative force the world has ever encountered?
đź‘‹ INTRODUCTION
I’m Adam Wilber from FaithLabz, and today we’re diving into what might be the most radical words Jesus ever spoke.
We often talk about love as a feeling, an emotion, something that happens to us. "I fell in love." "I’m feeling the love." But Jesus wasn’t talking about feelings. He was describing a way of being in the world that would be so distinct, so fundamentally different, that he said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples."
Think about that.
đź’ˇ Not by your theological knowledge.
đź’ˇ Not by your church attendance.
đź’ˇ Not by your political positions or your moral purity.
đź’ˇ But by your love.
🌍 THE CONTEXT – WHY THIS WAS REVOLUTIONARY
To understand just how revolutionary this command was, we need to understand the context.
Jesus spoke these words during the Last Supper, after washing his disciples’ feet. The same night Judas would betray him. The same night Peter would deny him. The same night all his followers would scatter in fear.
In the ancient world, groups were known by their distinctive beliefs, their ethnic identity, their religious practices, or their political allegiances. Jews were known by their adherence to the Torah. Romans by their citizenship and loyalty to the emperor. Pharisees by their meticulous observation of the law.
But Jesus says, "You will be known by your love."
This was mind-blowing. It still is.
🧠THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DIMENSION
The human default is not to love as Jesus loved. Our psychological wiring pushes us toward tribalism, self-protection, and status-seeking. We naturally love those who love us back, who are like us, who can benefit us in some way.
We all walk around with invisible ledgers in our minds, tracking who owes us and who we owe. We constantly calculate the cost-benefit analysis of our relationships.
But Jesus short-circuits this entire system.
"As I have loved you." That’s the standard. And how did Jesus love?
❤️ Sacrificially.
❤️ Unconditionally.
❤️ Without expectation of return.
The most fundamental human fear is that we are alone, that we don’t matter, that no one really sees us. And in our loneliness, we build walls, create identities, join tribes – anything to feel like we belong.
Jesus knew this. And his answer wasn’t just a new belief system or a new religion. It was a new kind of community bound together by a love that transcends our natural boundaries.
đź“– MAKING IT CONCRETE
Let me tell you about James.
James was a successful businessman in our church – respected, well-liked, the kind of guy who had it all together. One Sunday, a man named Marcus showed up. Homeless, struggling with addiction, smelling like he hadn’t showered in weeks.
Most people were polite but kept their distance. James, however, did something unexpected. He sat next to Marcus. Talked with him. Invited him to lunch.
Over the next year, James became Marcus’s friend – not his project, not his charity case – his friend. He helped him find housing, connected him with recovery resources, invited him over for family dinners.
When Marcus relapsed, James was there. When Marcus finally got a job, James was the first person he called.
One day, I asked James why he invested so much in this relationship, especially when Marcus had disappointed him multiple times.
James said, "You know, I kept thinking about Jesus washing Judas’s feet, knowing Judas would betray him. That’s love without conditions. And honestly, in helping Marcus, I discovered parts of myself that needed healing too."
That’s the thing about Jesus’s command to love – it’s not just about what we do for others. It’s about what happens within us when we love like he loved.
⚡ THE CHALLENGE
So here’s the challenge: What would it look like if Christians were genuinely known for our love?
❌ Not for being right.
❌ Not for being moral.
❌ Not for being politically influential.
✅ But for loving in a way that makes people wonder what’s going on.
What if we loved the person who votes differently than us with the same intensity we love those who share our views?
What if we loved the difficult family member, the annoying neighbor, the person who hurt us deeply?
What if we loved not because the other person deserves it, but because love is who we are becoming?
đź’¸ THE COST AND THE REWARD
Make no mistake – this kind of love is costly. It will disrupt your comfort. It will rearrange your priorities. It will expose your own brokenness.
Jesus didn’t say "By this everyone will know you’re my disciples: if you have warm fuzzy feelings for each other." He demonstrated a love that led to a cross.
But here’s the beautiful paradox:
✨ In losing ourselves in this kind of love, we find ourselves.
✨ In giving ourselves away, we become more fully who we were created to be.
When we love as Jesus loved, something supernatural happens. We participate in the very nature of God, because God is love. And in doing so, we become more fully human.
🎯 TIME TO TAKE TO ACTION
As I wrap up today, I want to leave you with a question and a challenge.
The question is simple:
🗣️ If the people in your life were asked what Christians are known for, would "love" be their first answer?
And here’s the challenge:
➡️ Identify one person in your life who is difficult to love. Maybe someone who has hurt you, who frustrates you, who is radically different from you. This week, make one tangible move toward loving that person as Jesus has loved you.
đź’› Not because they deserve it.
đź’› Not because it will change them.
đź’› But because this is what it means to follow Jesus.
Because when Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you," he wasn’t just giving us a nice sentiment for greeting cards.
He was inviting us into a revolution.
This is Adam Wilber from FaithLabz. Remember, in a world that’s constantly trying to divide us, love remains our most powerful testimony. See you next time.
As always, Onward and God bless you!
An Invitation to go Deeper….
If today’s message spoke to you, join the FaithLabz 30-Day Prayer Challenge and strengthen your connection with God’s unshakable love. You are never alone—let’s grow together!
