Love One Another

MEMORY SELECTION: “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” —Matthew 18:4

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18:1-6, 15-22

JUST before his crucifixion Jesus said to his disciples, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:34,35) And again, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”—John 15:12-14

What is there in being a footstep follower of Jesus that requires the expression of love toward others who are endeavoring to walk in the same way? One reason is that we have the same Father and, therefore, there is a real family relationship. At the tomb after the resurrection of Jesus, when he spoke to Mary he said, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (John 20:17) His brethren, of course, were his disciples. In the flesh, we know that Jesus and his disciples were not brethren. They were brethren only because of their ultimate mutual relationship to God. The father and son relationship did not become a reality for the disciples until Pentecost when they were baptized with God’s Holy Spirit, just as Jesus was baptized with God’s Holy Spirit at Jordan. (Matt. 3:16) The result was the same in both instances, for both became spirit-begotten sons of God, and since they are sons, they are also brethren.

The Apostle Paul explains the matter: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption [sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”—Rom. 8:14-17

Those who are begotten of God’s Holy Spirit appreciate this bond. Jesus put the relationship in proper perspective when he said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” (John 6:44) This means that all who enjoy sonship have been personally selected by God to be part of his family, which is the basis for a strong bond of mutual love.

Each member of the Lord’s family has Jesus as his example. It was he who demonstrated by his actions the kind of love that members of the Lord’s family should have toward one another. The Apostle John explains: “By this we have known love, because he [Jesus] laid down his life on our behalf; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. Dear children! We should not love in word nor in tongue, but in work and in truth.” (I John 3:16,18, Diaglott) If we study the accounts given in the Gospels, we can readily see how Jesus laid his life down on behalf of the disciples. He literally died on the cross to provide the ransom price for them and for the whole world, but he did more than this. Day by day, early or late, in season or out of season, Jesus ministered to his disciples, teaching them, encouraging them, looking after their needs. In fact, he laid his life down every day.

The Apostle Paul’s life was also an example of a dynamic Christian love in action. In II Corinthians 11:24-28, he tells some of the experiences and trials that he endured while laying down his life for the Lord, the truth, and the brethren. In doing these things, he realized that he was following the admonitions of Jesus as recorded in John 15:12-15,17, previously quoted in this study. These instructions were for all the footstep followers of Jesus, who realize that they all have one work and one purpose or object in view, and that there is but one way to attain that purpose.

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