PROCLAMATION
“A
new commandment I give unto you, ‘That ye love one another;’ As I have
loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that
ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35 (KJV)
EXPLANATION
These
words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according
to the Apostle John
and were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God. In
this chapter John records the events surrounding the last meal that Jesus had
with His disciples before His crucifixion. John describes Jesus
washing their feet, (John 13:4-12) His explanation for doing it, (John
13:12-20) He identifies His betrayer, (John 13:21-27) and He gives them a new
commandment, telling them to love one another as He has loved them. (John
13:34-35) Jesus tells them that He will
leave them and they cannot follow Him.
Peter asked Him why they can’t follow Him, and says that he would lay
down his life for Him. Then Jesus tells
him that he will deny Him three times before the rooster crows. (John 13:36-38)
APPLICATION
As
Christians we believe in the birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection of
Jesus, The Christ. We also know that we are to share the gospel of
Christ with others. However, in order for us to effectively spread The
Word of God, we must also live it. Our behavior must be consistent
with our words. Worldly people will know that we belong to Christ if we
demonstrate our love for one another. To them our actions will speak much
louder than our words. If we do not act in a Christ-like manner, we may
turn people away from becoming a Christian. Not only are we to love those
who love us, we are to love all believers. We should be very careful
regarding how we treat our Christian brothers and sisters. Our bad
behavior towards one another weakens the church and ruins our effectiveness in
promoting the gospel and saving the lost. The unsaved people of the world
will judge us, and all Christians, by what they see in us, and by how we treat
each other. Therefore, let us love one another.
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