Sermon Central
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What Is Christian Love?
Contributed by I. Grant Spong on May 16, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: What is the sign that we are Jesus’ true disciples? Let’s look at what Jesus said distinguishes his disciples and see why this old command is new in Jesus. Let’s see what Jesus said about glory and love in John 13:31-35.
What is the sign that we are Jesus’ true disciples? Let’s look at what Jesus said distinguishes his disciples and see why this old command is new in Jesus. Let’s see what Jesus said about glory and love in John 13:31-35.
John 13:31-32 Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.”
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says that, in this context “glorified” means that Jesus will be made renowned, rendered illustrious. The Greek root for glory is doxa from which we get doxology, a short hymn praising God. Praising God glorifies Him. Jesus deserves true glory because He gave His life for us.
John 13:33 “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’”
Jesus addressed the disciples as “little children,” an unusually fond term. Jesus was going to ascend to the Father, a place where they could not now go, but would follow him after. In verse 36, Jesus says, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
How is this new? It is new because we are to love “as I [Jesus] have loved you.” We live a life exemplified by foot-washing and taking up our crosses. John wrote, “let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” (1 John 3:18).
Those who only love their own nationality, race, or gender have a limited Old Testament love. New love is for all. The love from heaven is a testimony to where God is. It is the only practical solution to the world’s problems. We Christians are given a love like Jesus.
No matter what values we accumulate in life, Christian love is new because we love as Jesus loved. It is the ultimate value.
John 13:31-35; 1 John 3:18 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
