John 13:33-35

We never fully understand what life circumstances have shaped the foundation of another believer. 

Life interferes with our Christian walk until we lay it to rest and let Holy Spirit have His way in us.

We need to love others as Christ loves them. Gods’ agape love covers a multitude of sins.

John 13:33–35

33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus inserts this phrase into the commandment from Leviticus 19:18. The new part of the commandment is that Jesus’ disciples are instructed to love other people the way Jesus loved them—serving them like a slave would, as He does in this scene, even to the point of laying down their lives for others. Faithlife Bible.

The time had come for Jesus to announce His departure to His disciples. Little children is an expression of tender affection used nowhere else in the Gospels. John did not forget the expression; he used it repeatedly in 1 John.

The command to love was new because Jesus gave it a new standard. Moses said, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Jesus said the new standard was as I have loved you. Jesus gave His disciples the example of love that they were to follow.

Unbelievers recognize Jesus’ disciples not by their doctrinal distinctives, nor by dramatic miracles, nor even by their love for the lost. They recognize His disciples by their deeds of love for one another. NKJ Bible.

Before Christ left the disciples, he would give them a new commandment. They were to love each other for Christ’s sake, and according to his example, seeking what might benefit others, and promoting the cause of the gospel, as one body, animated by one soul. But this commandment still appears new to many professors. Men in general notice any of Christ’s words rather than these. By this it appears, that if the followers of Christ do not show love one to another, they give cause to suspect their sincerity. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Leviticus 19:18  You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Mark 16:19  So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

John 7:33  Then Jesus said to them, “I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me.