That phrase, “just as Christ loved us” (Ephesians 5:2), reveals the key to what Jesus meant by His “new command.”
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).13
“Love” itself is not new, for the Old Testament emphasized it.14 But John 13 records “a new command” in its greater measure, in its deeper level of sacrifice, in its sheer intensity! Love as Jesus loves! Imitate the sacrificed Son so closely that the world can recognize your family likeness.
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers (1 John 3:16). M
Many Christians can quote John 3:16, “God so loved the world….” How many can quote 1 John 3:16? Are we willing, as it says, to “lay down our lives for our brothers”? Do we want to give like we get? Memorize John 3:16, but don’t stop there. Let John 3:16 (God’s loving sacrifice) move you to fulfill 1 John 3:16 (your loving sacrifice). As John insists, love is much more than words. Love must be true and active!
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:16-18).
13. New command: 1 John 2:7-8; 2 John 1:5; affect on the world: John 17:21,23
14. Research Subject – Love and mercy in the Old Testament: Leviticus 19:18,34; 10:12-19; Psalm 37:25; 133:1; Proverbs 3:3; 10:12; 11:17; 14:10,31; 14:17; 17:9,17; 20:28; 21:21; 24:29; Song of Solomon 8:6-7; Isaiah 66:10; Hosea 4:1; 12:6; Micah 6:8; Matthew 7:12; Romans 13:8-10 e.g. Genesis 14:14-16; Exodus 20:12-17,6; 34:9; Numbers 14:13-20. God set the example of love: Exodus 34:5-6; Deuteronomy 7:7-14; 10:15; 33:1-3; 1 Kings 8:23; 1 Chronicles 16:34; Nehemiah 9:17; Jeremiah 31:3