Love

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

John 15:12 (ESV)

Jesus might not seem to be particularly original here. The commandments Moses gave were, in summary, pretty similar. 'Love your neighbour' was written by Moses, he got there thousands of years before Christ's first advent.

Note however the spin that Jesus puts on the commandment. He raises the bar higher than Moses. Moses tells us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves.

We don't need to be told to love ourselves. Jesus did need to tell us to love each other as He has loved us. How did He love us? By giving His life for us.

Jesus is telling us to be willing to lay down our lives for others. Elsewhere He even says to love our enemies. If we only love those who love us, we're no better than pagans.

'Loving heavenly Father, may we love each other as Your Son loved us and gave Himself for us on the cross. For Your glory and honour we pray, amen'

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