John 5:12

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

It’s not difficult to find the commandment in this verse; Jesus is quite clear about that. This is, however, a more difficult command to follow than it would appear if we’re in our all-too-common “quick reading gloss-over” mode.

The first problem is that our Christian brothers and sisters aren’t always lovable people, or they don’t always act in a lovable way. In other words, they are fallen, broken people just like us!

Paul helps us out of that dilemma in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. If you read the chapter very carefully, you will find it says nothing about how you feel. It does say, however, that love is patient and kind, and not envious or boastful. Love avoids arrogance and rudeness, irritability and resentment.

Can you be patient with someone regardless of how you feel? Can you be kind to someone no matter how they treat you? Of course you can! It may not “feel natural” to do so, but you can do it.

If that were the only problem we have with this verse, we’d be challenged, but OK; we can overcome selfishness with kindness, at least on our good days. But it’s not the only problem we have to deal with. The verse ends with “…as I have loved you.” That’s when the commandment goes from difficult to extremely difficult, as we consider “how indeed did Christ love us?”

Back up to chapter 10, verse 11: “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” Jesus gave his life for us!! Now, think about “… as I have loved you.”

We were, as sinners and unbelievers, enemies of God. But then “We were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” Now, think about “… as I have loved you.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf.”

Philippians 2:8 reminds us that Jesus is the ultimate example of humility: “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

If Jesus is our standard to measure how well we are loving our brothers and sisters in Christ, how well are we doing? Is there anything we can do for others that is “too much” or “going too far”? I read this verse, and am compelled to ask myself “How am I doing?”