24 Series Devotionals - Day 3

Jesus Began Teaching a New Commandment

Jesus had entered Jerusalem on Sunday and on Monday had cleansed the temple.  Then, as recorded in Matthew 21 - 25, Tuesday was a day of conflict as the religious leaders plotted to trip Him up and gather evidence to arrest Him.

Wednesday was probably a day of rest, but on Thursday He met with his disciples in the Upper Room in order to observe Passover.1  In this event, Judas and Peter are the two most visible examples of objects of Christ’s love.

The word “love” is used only twelve times in the first twelve chapters of the Book of John, but in the next nine (13 - 21), it is used 44 times!  If “believe” is the key word for the gospel of John, “love” is the key word in Christ’s upper room discourse with his disciples.  It was also a burden in His High Priestly Prayer (John 17:26)2

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”  --John 13:34

Love new?  Love a new way?

In this context, “new” means “unprecedented; fresh.”  Not new in time, but new in experience, --a new way to love.  Loving God and loving your neighbor is the sum and substance of the Word of God.  It’s not new in the sense that it’s recent; it’s new in the sense that it’s fresh, as modeled by Jesus.  

How do we view “love” when we think of the word?  Has it ever occurred to us that there is another way….a way that comes only from God?  Perhaps it’s time to take a look at that “new way.”