“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command,” (Matthew 15:12-14)
We need to love each other as Jesus loved us. How did He love us? He laid down His life for His friends. ‘But there is no purpose in dying for my friends,’ you may say, ‘it is better living for them.’ This is exactly what Jesus meant. By ‘laying down his life’ He didn’t mean His dying on the cross, but the sacrificial life He led. He gave His disciples and the community all He had and kept nothing to Himself. Whenever somebody needed Him, He was there for them. E.g. when John the Baptist’s disciples told Jesus he was beheaded, Jesus “withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick,” (Matthew 14:13-14). Even when He wanted to be alone to mourn, He put the people’s needs first.
How are we faring in the light of this command? How busy are we with our materialistic lives? Do we have time to have an encouraging conversation with someone in need, to go out and support those whose lives are shattered by circumstances? We often distance ourselves from those who had life the hard way and as a result ended in horrible circumstances such as crime and gangsterism. When we get in touch with the drug addict, the night clubber, the prostitute and her pimp or the rejected child we look down on them, scared to touch them in case they might infect our life, find out where we live and then steal our precious belongings. Don’t we often ignore the beggar for we are convinced they may use our money for buying drugs or alcohol? We are too busy looking after ourselves, aren’t we?
If Jesus was on earth today, how would He respond to the people we just mentioned? He would receive wisdom from above to e.g. deal with the beggar intending to use His money for buying alcohol, and would find a way to help him and those we have mentioned – He would walk the extra mile. But it would be easy for Him, for He would not have a big house, a lot of money, much entertainment and sports that He would have to attend to. “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head,” (Matthew 8:20). Jesus deliberately chose a life without Mammon, for He knew that Mammon would be an obstacle if He wanted to give His all.
Love each other as Jesus has loved you. Maybe you were drawn from the depths of sin or maybe you always had it easy. Maybe you know what life is as a prostitute, a gangster, a street child, a poor person or maybe you always had it well materially, but understand rejection, anxiety, pain, loneliness and sin. Maybe you were saved from the curse of pornography, lust, alcoholism or maybe your life had just been perfect and you have all that you need... except for that intimate relationship with Jesus. Maybe Jesus saved you from all this and gave you eternal hope.
Shouldn’t we go to the same lengths for such people as Jesus did? Isn’t that what it means to love each other as Jesus did? I know it is very difficult, for we are busy people and have lives to maintain. We have built for ourselves success that should be sustained and we can’t possibly find time for this kind of love. At night we are tired and deserve some time at the telly.
The rich young man also tried to justify himself and Jesus simply told him: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me,” (Matthew 19:21).
Lord, I really need to take stock of my life and love as you have loved.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.
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