New Command!

New Command!

I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another.
JOHN 13:34 AMP

You have to wonder why Jesus called the command to love a new one. Right from the days of the Law given to Moses, one of the two greatest commandments, as confirmed by Jesus himself in one of his parable- messages, is the command to 'love your neighbour as yourself'. God commands love as an expression of His presence in His children, and this theme runs through the entire Bible days and after. So, how's this a new commandment?

In the days of Jesus, the people had lost the true message on the meaning of love. All they could see were the terrible examples of the Pharisees, scribes, priests and elders in the temple. These were men who should know the law of God, but they knew nothing about the God of the law, the God of love or of grace. They were self-centered and selfish. The old law focused on 'neignbour', making it a bit narrow in scope, but Jesus has simply extended it to all men everywhere. He has also laid down an example worthy of emulation. The people may have had no good examples to imitate; but the disciples had seen firsthand what love meant, when Jesus, their Lord and Master, washed their feet.

This is a new commandment; one that only a dependence on God can help you obey. It is the season of grace, where God releases help for his children to obey his commands. He is the example: loving us when we were unworthy; giving his life for our sake. The best we can do is to live our lives in daily appreciation of what we have received. His time of favour is here.