“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

Jesus came to fulfill the law and He spent His years of ministry in Israel proclaiming that we are free from the Law. Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus and got his message directly from Christ. He spent his life declaring that we are free from the laws and regulations of the Old Testament. He made clear that if the Law could have saved us Christ wouldn’t have died for us. The penalty of violating the Law was paid by Christ so we would never have to pay it.

Yet, Jesus left us a commandment. “Love one another.” This was in the Old Testament as well, but it was new because of the dimension Jesus gave it. Jesus created a new community, the Church. It would be held together by love, not by geographical connections, common language or culture. It would break the bonds of selfishness that attempt to separate us from each other. This new community, the Church, would experience love at its highest level—“As I have loved you.” That is a high standard for any of us to reach.

How can we do it?

That kind of love can only be given if we have received it from Him. We are simply the channels through which His love flows to others. He loved us and it’s that love that shows us what love looks like and that empowers us to love others. That is the distinguishing mark of His disciples. Jesus declared the simple result of His love being on display through us. “Everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”