That’s not an easy command to follow, especially in a world that is so big on self-love. We hear about it all the time! Love yourself, treat yourself, take care of yourself, etc. And, of course, there is nothing wrong with that. I prioritize showing myself love! …making sure to save enough time for rest, relaxation and doing things that fulfill my own personal interests and desires. But God wants us to love other people the same way we love ourselves. Yikes, that’s a tall task to fill. People are imperfect, which makes loving them a challenge sometimes, but we are called to persist in love. Much later in the Bible, Jesus personally gave His disciples the command to love one another, but this time there was a slightly different twist. 

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. -John 13:34

The stakes were officially raised!! Now, not only are we to love other people like we love ourselves, but we are actually supposed to love them the way Jesus loves us. If the original command was hard, this one is even harder. Jesus’ love for us was humble, sacrificial and unconditional. In His love, Jesus washed His disciples’ dirty feet, paid attention to the rejected and despised, patiently explained and re-explained spiritual truths, befriended someone He knew would one day betray Him, welcomed interruptions, provided physical and spiritual food, prayed for people who hated Him, answered shallow and manipulative questions, and lived at a slow enough pace to personally and intimately care for the people around Him. Do you love people like that? 

A peek at the next verse in John 13 shows us how Jesus hammered home His point. He made it clear that the way we love others is crucial.

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. -John 13:35

Our love is our distinguishing factor! It’s how we stand together, united with our brothers and sisters in Christ to show our allegiance to Jesus. It’s our way of proudly stating, I am a Jesus follower! Just like any out-of-towner who comes to Kansas City on a Red Friday can tell who the Chiefs fans are, anybody you encounter in your day should be able to tell you are a disciple of Christ by the way you love those around you. …your family, your closest friends, your coworkers, your boss, your teachers, your acquaintances, the lady checking you out at the grocery store, the person handing you food through a drive thru window, and even that waiter who gives you terrible service at a restaurant. Are you loving all of these people? Are you loving them like you love yourself? Are you loving them like Jesus loves you? THIS LOVE is how the world can tell that we are disciples of Jesus. 

Let me leave you with this question: If a person you interact with today was told, after interacting with you, that you’re a Christian, would they be surprised? Or would they nod their head and say, Yeah, that seems right. Ask God to help you show His love to everyone in your life, even the brief passersby. And don’t forget to thank Jesus for His ultimate act of love—sacrificing His very life on the cross to pay the price for our sins. For most of us, our human love will never match up to that, but the incomparable heart behind it sure gives us something incredible to aspire to, doesn’t it?

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:8