Loving Like Jesus
John 13:34-35

The word Christians was given to the followers of Christ because their lives were Christ-centered.  Their lives reflected the teachings of their Lord; their communities were Christ-centered; their love for each other was also evident to outsiders.  Sadly, this is no longer the case in our society where the word Christian is thrown so loosely.  Today many so-called Christians do not reflect the teaching of Jesus in their lives; many think they can be Christians without being part of a local church.  Their love for each other is not shown in their dealing with each other.  Jesus had said to this followers that love will be the distinguishable mark.  By this all people will know you are my disciples if you love one another.
John 13:34-35
Jesus just got done eating his last supper with his disciples before he was killed.  He also washed his disciples’ feet to show them how they were to serve one another.  Then Jesus gives them a new commandment.  The disciples were familiar with loving God and loving others, but this is more personal.  Jesus commanded them to love each other, to love one another.
(v.34)  “A new commandment I give you that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” ESV

Followers of Jesus are to love one another; Jesus specifies the kind of love his followers must have for each other.  Just as I have loved you.
In order for you and I to learn to love like Jesus, we must learn how Jesus loved his followers.  Followers of Jesus must adopt the definition of love found in Scripture, not the one you learn from Hollywood or our society.
Jesus said, love one another just as I have loved you.
The disciples had spent three years with Jesus and they could tell how Jesus loved them.
Loving like Jesus is serving without agenda.  Jesus just washed his feet; he served his followers out of love for them.  Without expecting anything in return.
Jesus had said the “The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve.”  Mk.10:45
Matt.23:11“The greatest among you must be your servant.”  An attitude of servanthood places you on the list of great in the kingdom of Jesus.

Loving like Jesus is caring and watching over those you love.
Jesus cared for his followers as a hen cares for her chicks.  Luke 13:34
Like a shepherd watches over his flock (Jesus called himself the Good shepherd. John 10).  He protects, provides and guides his sheep.
Like a father cares for his children.  “My children” John 13:33 Jesus was given his children his final instructions before he was taken from them.

Loving like Jesus is reprimanding and correcting bad behavior.
Because Jesus loved them he disciplined them when they needed.  To Peter Jesus once told him get behind me Satan because Peter wasn’t thinking right.  Matt.16:23
Jesus rebuked them when they lacked faith.  “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with? how long am I to bear with you?”  Mk.9:19
Mk.16:14 Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart.
The author of Hebrews tells us that God disciplines us because he loves us and it is for our own good.  Heb.12:6-11

 Loving like Jesus is costly.  Jesus told his followers to love each other as he has loved them.  Jesus was about to display the greatest act of love for his followers whom he called “friends”  John 15:12-14  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.
God himself demonstrated his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom.5:8
Loving like Jesus means to be willing to sacrifice yourself for the one you claim to love.  Jesus took our place on the cross; he took the punishment that was ours.  This is truly the greatest expression of love displayed.  He commanded his followers to love each other the same way he has loved them.  HE loved them through service, by taking care of them and watching over them and providing for them.  HE loved them by correcting them and disciplining them when they did something wrong.  He ultimately loved them by dying for them.

Now it’s up to us to follow our Lord’s example.  A new command I give you; love one another just I have loved you, so you must love one another.  It will be by this that people will know that we are truly his disciples when we love each other the way Jesus has loved us.