John 13:31-38

Be Still: Jesus, Prince of Peace, I come to you today to sit at your feet. To learn from you. To look more like you. Come and meet with me. Amen

Read: John 13:31-38

'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.' (v34-35)

Encounter: What are you known for? I am not a great cook but randomly one thing I can cook really well is cauliflower soup! I'm known amongst friends and family now for my cauliflower soup (with a drizzle of chorizo oil just in case you were wondering!).

Here Jesus tells his disciples that they should be known for how they love one another. This is a really important moment as it comes sandwiched between two huge examples of Jesus loving them in all their frailty and brokenness. Firstly, by washing their feet, and secondly by dying for them on the Cross. 

What Jesus is saying is you can’t tell who his close followers are by their acts of power, clever teaching or worldly prestige and influence, but primarily from how they love one another. In other words, by how much they imitate Jesus. This is extremely releasing as it means anyone and everyone is welcomed to follow Jesus and can become like him. It’s also extremely challenging as it invites every one of us to examine our character and the ‘hidden’ way we treat our family, friends, colleagues, and even enemies. Are we loving to one another?

Apply: Are you in a small community group where you can live out this calling to love one another? If not, consider signing up for a Gas Street Community or one in your own church. In your work, in your home, in your family, how are you doing at being known as a true follower of Jesus?

Devote: Holy Spirit, where I find it hard to be like Jesus, would you change me and empower me to make choices like he made, to think like he thought, to speak like he spoke, to act like he acted. May I be known as his follower by how I love those around me.