Message by Larry Thacker Jr. from August 20, “A New Commandment”
Jesus says in John 13:34-35 (LSB), “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
What makes it new? Before this, when asked about the greatest commandment in the law, Jesus replied, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
Jesus has just illustrated in part what He means by washing the feet of the disciples. He is about to provide the ultimate example on the cross. What makes this commandment new is the extension of the old. We are not called just to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are called to love him more than ourselves! He said that we are to love each other as He has loved us. He gave His life for us!
