Are You One of the Disciples of Jesus?

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35, NKJV)

What did the Lord Jesus Christ say about how all people will know who His disciples are?

It may seem common sense and easy to understand that Jesus would command us to love our enemies and declare that as a new commandment. But instead, why loving our fellow believers? Why did Jesus commanded with emphasis, saying, “love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”? The Lord must have seen the issues and challenges among believers on loving each other. The tendencies to compare and compete – who is the greatest? Who is the best?

One of the tests on our commitment to Jesus is our love for fellow believers. If we consider ourselves to be disciples of Jesus, we should be known by our love for each other. Jesus did not say that others would know we are His disciples by what we say or what we know. But it is through our genuine love, which is reflected through our attitudes and actions towards each other.

Therefore, Jesus declares that the mark of His disciples is the love for one another. Our Lord Jesus did model and expressed this kind of love by laying down His life for all of us.

May the Lord help us to love one another as He has loved us all.

   – Contributed by Ptr. Neil Marlon Crisostomo