Exploring the Text: The mark of followership
In this passage, Jesus is talking with his disciples. Later this night, he will be betrayed, tried, and the following day he will be crucified. This is part of the last message he will share with them before his death.
He says that he is giving them a new commandment, to love one another just as he had loved them. This type of love is more than just positive feelings or affection. This type of love is a commitment to the best for the other person. This kind of love shows itself in action, not just affection. If we look back at the life of Jesus, we can see how he loved. He served, the healed, he restored, and he delivered. This is the kind of love that Jesus is asking his followers to have for one another. He is asking them to be committed to each other, to serve each other, to heal each other, to restore each other, and to deliver each other. This is the kind of love we should have for each other, and ultimately, for others around us.
Jesus goes on to say that this kind of love is the true mark of someone who follows him. The mark of discipleship is not what we know, what we believe, how we vote, how we dress, or anything else like that. The mark of followership is love. That was the defining characteristic of Jesus, and it is the defining characteristic of his followers. If you are a follower of Jesus, it should be your defining characteristic as well.
To explore this topic more, read, study, and reflect on 1 John 4:7-21.
In this passage, Jesus is talking with his disciples. Later this night, he will be betrayed, tried, and the following day he will be crucified. This is part of the last message he will share with them before his death.
He says that he is giving them a new commandment, to love one another just as he had loved them. This type of love is more than just positive feelings or affection. This type of love is a commitment to the best for the other person. This kind of love shows itself in action, not just affection. If we look back at the life of Jesus, we can see how he loved. He served, the healed, he restored, and he delivered. This is the kind of love that Jesus is asking his followers to have for one another. He is asking them to be committed to each other, to serve each other, to heal each other, to restore each other, and to deliver each other. This is the kind of love we should have for each other, and ultimately, for others around us.
Jesus goes on to say that this kind of love is the true mark of someone who follows him. The mark of discipleship is not what we know, what we believe, how we vote, how we dress, or anything else like that. The mark of followership is love. That was the defining characteristic of Jesus, and it is the defining characteristic of his followers. If you are a follower of Jesus, it should be your defining characteristic as well.
To explore this topic more, read, study, and reflect on 1 John 4:7-21.