Jesus repeats His signature commandment and immediately defines the standard: “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” The love commanded is cross-shaped — sacrificial, practical, costly — and it is His commandment, not a suggestion.
John 15:12 KJV“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”
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Jesus calls this His commandment — singular, primary, the one that must characterize everyone who bears His name. And the standard is His own love: the love that went to the cross, that washed feet, that pursued the lost. Think about the people you find hardest to love — the difficult ones, the ones who have hurt you, the ones who are nothing like you. Is that the love you are giving them? If not, this command is still waiting on you.
You know the person who is hardest to love — name them right now. The one who wronged you, who opposes you, who grates on you. Love them today as Jesus loved you: sacrificially, without conditions, whether they respond or not. Serve them, forgive them, speak well of them, meet a need. Do it before the day ends. This is His command, and the standard is His own love.
When you love one another as He loved you, you obey the command that sums up all others. This love flows from the Father's own heart — He is love, and when you love like this, you bear His image. You draw near to Him as you live in love, for God is love, and whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
love | the cross | friendship
This is one of 69 direct commands of Jesus in the free Red Letter Challenge: All Commands of Jesus — The Living Sword
Read every Scripture in your chosen translation (WEB, KJV, Geneva, YLT, and more) at https://www.thelivingsword.org/red-letter-challenge/love-as-i-have-loved-you