“A New Commandment” John 13:34,35

John 13:34,35

Audio Version

Pastor Tom Johnson, April 24, 2016

You’ve heard it called “The Golden Rule.” James calls it “The Royal Law” (James 2:8). “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This commandment is first given to God’s people in the Old Testament in the book of Leviticus (19:18): “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” Far from being a mere cliché, this Scriptural truth is a powerful reminder of how we ought to relate to one another. It is insightful instruction in how we should treat others. It encourages us ask ourselves, “How would you like it if someone did or said that to you?” It invites us to take the perspective of another person: the person who will either be the victim of our sin or the benefactor of our love. The commandment invites us to take the time “to walk a mile in someone else’s moccasins.” We should be quick to listen and slow to speak. We should develop empathy before we might say a discouraging word or act in an unloving manner. It is also profoundly convicting since we so often fail to love each other as we would want to be loved. All it means is that we take a few seconds to envision a better outcome. What a different world this would be if we all did this!

As significant as this Royal Law is, Jesus brings it to a whole new level. And He does it, ironically enough, on the night He is betrayed. He teaches us what love is when He himself is not treated as a neighbor should be—the very night He is sold for 30 shekels of silver and then betrayed with a kiss. Our Lord said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.” At first, it doesn’t seem like there is anything new at all. But He continues: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” The new aspect of this commandment is the Lord’s description of this love: “Just as I have loved you.” This is no ordinary commandment. This is a uniquely Christian commandment. One has to know the Gospel to understand this love. The old commandment, love your neighbor as yourself, was a commandment that only involved horizontal, human relationships. How would your fellow human being want to be treated? The new commandment, love as Christ loved us, is a commandment which also involves a vertical and divine relationship. How can I love this person in the same way Christ has loved me?

How do my actions compare with—and actually reflect—the selfless, sacrificial acts of my Lord? The new commandment invites us to take the perspective of our Savior—the One who comes, not for the righteous, but the unrighteous—to seek and to save us who are lost. Following this discussion of a New Commandment with His disciples Jesus takes bread, gives thanks, distributes it and says “Take, eat. This is my Body, given for you.” Similarly, he takes the cup of wine and says, “This cup is the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”  This is not just an illustration of love or a picture of love. Christ’s passion—His suffering and death—is the very act of love itself. The New Commandment is embodied in the bread and the wine, the Body and Blood of Jesus. We should not sentimentalize this meal any more than the commandment to love on another. We experience his love in our eating and drinking. Jesus strengthens and preserves us body and soul unto eternal life.

He loves us by Word, Bread, and Wine. He loves us by giving his Body and Blood in this meal. He loves us by giving his Body and Spirit up on the Cross. And having been loved by Jesus; we now can love like Jesus. Because his love does not just cover us from condemnation and death. It transforms us into forgiving, empathetic, self-sacrificing people. We leave the Lord’s Table and Communion together as recipients of his love. We leave as conduits and ambassadors of his love.

Praise we Him, whose love divine
Gives His sacred blood for wine
Gives His body for the feast—
Christ the victim, Christ the priest.

Easter triumph, Easter joy!
This alone can sin destroy;
From sin’s pow’r, Lord set us free,
Newborn souls in you to be.