Near the end of their time together, Jesus gives a new commandment to his followers. He tells them to love one another as he as loved them. In fact, he says their love for one another will be the way everyone will know they are his followers. Jesus did not give the disciples an easy task, and through the ages, his followers have only had mixed results. We struggle to love one another still today.
Loving one another has never been simple thing. Case-in-point, Jesus calls the followers to love just after Judas (the disciple who turned him in, who betrayed him to the authorities) has gone to carry out the betrayal. Jesus knows what is about to happen and the role Judas is playing – and yet Jesus talks to his people about love, calling them to love in a moment when he could instead focus on frustration, disappointment, retribution or rebuke. Nope. Jesus focuses on love.
Love is a wide and complicated task. It extends way beyond good feelings and happiness together: Love is what motivates us to stay around when we are disappointed. Love is the commitment to see the good in someone who has hurt us. Love is a choice that helps us speak kindly when we are angry. Love is restraint that halts vengeful words or actions when we’ve been wronged. Love is patience that moves us to give yet another chance. Also, love is gathering the strength to speak truth into a complicated situation. Love is persistently calling for responsibility and change when they are needed. Love is firm resolve that does not tolerate bad or hurtful behavior. Love is calling for justice. Love is truly one of the hardest things we do in relationship with each other.
Loving one another as we have been loved by Jesus is such a difficult thing to do that we followers of Jesus often fail miserably. Sadly, love for each other does not rank very high among the attributes peoples might name when listing characteristics of Jesus’ followers. Squabbling, claiming to be right, judging others, breaking way, and rejecting each other make the list much more easily.
Yet there are so many times when we do manage it. There are moments and encounters where Jesus’ love is lived out by those of us who strive to follow. Situations when his love is shared between people in ways that are powerful and life-giving and transforming – when the presence of God is truly found in our interactions.
We are called by the one who loves us without condition or limit to love each other. In this season of resurrection, we keep on trying. The God who can defeat death will surely help us learn how to actually love each other. Each time we manage to love, our relationships and the world are transformed.
Peace,
weekly prayer | Jesus calls his followers to love in John 13