17 This is my command: Love each other.
In our verse for today our Lord states a renewed exhortation towards brotherly love. This is His second time to command us in a mere five verses regarding what is closest to His heart – the mutual love of the brethren – our standard being His perfect example of a humble and loving sacrificial service:
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12 (NIV)
It would do us all well to remember that the weary, the hungry, the downtrodden, the thirsty, the guilty, the worthless, the vilest, the boring, the annoying, the loudmouth, the insecure, the overbearing, the self-sufficient and anyone else that lacks perfection (which would include us all) – out of love – are invited to come and believe in the Lord Jesus – no exceptions. He came to save sinners who could not save themselves and has assured us in His Word that He will never turn anyone away who comes to Him.
“Amazing grace! How sweet the sound! That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; was blind but now I see.” John Newton
Indeed, the apostle Paul writes to us of love’s preeminence in 1 Corinthians – love being the most excellent way:
8 Love never fails. 1 Cor 13:8 (NIV)
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:13 (NIV)
Christian love must certainly be such a rarity as to have the constant reminder of it by sweet Jesus – love being in stark contrast to the hatred and discord of the world which flows so naturally and freely between vessels of flesh. Brotherly love was an extremely important grace of which Christ constantly spoke. It remains His utmost mantra. Indeed, when posed the question as to the greatest commandment, His answer pointed to this high calling of love:
36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matt 22:36-40 (NIV)
“Love one another that it may at last be said of Christians as it was at first: ‘Behold how they love one another.’” Ralph Venning
Taking the ten and summing them all up in two: Love God – Love others. There is no other Christian duty so emphatically urged or persistently impressed upon believers than brotherly love. Certainly one of the reasons our Lord Jesus puts such an emphasis on this is that it is so unnatural for flesh. Intense passionate love – “Erao”, natural familial love – “Storge”, personal affection and fondness between friends – “Phileo”, all come rather easy for us as they are very often self gratifying. “Agapao”, the love Jesus speaks of in our verse for today, is not naturally found in earthen vessels. It is a selfless love that is rooted in the mind and the will of the subject and it is to prize, esteem, treat as precious and to be devoted to. It is to treat one with value and respect. It is doing what is best for the object of the love. Divine love was demonstrated at Calvary when the sinless Lamb bled and died for sinful, undeserving humanity.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)
Christ’s actions were the highest expression of love and devotion. Mere human kindness would fail in the wake of such harsh treatment – dying at the hands of those He came to save. It is the love straight from heaven and quite impossible without the indwelling of the Spirit’s power. Our fleshly ardor, sympathy and human kindness will be cooled by the indifference and ingratitude often met by other’s unlovely expressions and reactions. Human love will always be found wanting.
17 “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zeph 3:17 (NIV)