Play Ball
I gained a new insight from verse 34 today. Jesus says he's giving his disciples a new command. And yet it sounds very much like an old command that God had given to Moses through the Torah. Indeed, one that Jesus himself quoted earlier when a lawyer asked him what the greatest command was. To which Jesus replied in part, "...to love your neighbor as yourself." And this is where it differs. It differs at the as part. Luke 19.18 that Jesus referred to says to "love your neighbor AS YOURSELF". Here I am at the center. I'm motivated in part by how I want to be loved. In John 13.34 Jesus is saying "to love others (neighbors plus others) as he loved them. Jesus lifts up love in both commands. But in John God is the starting point for my love and not myself. And that takes love to the next step, to a new height, and is a new channel. I think it's easier to love others as I want to be loved. But to love others like Christ loves me is more sacrificial and them focussed.
I feel intimidated by this to be honest with you. Can I really love others like Christ loves me? Is it possible? If so, how possible is it. I know it's not possible if I don't try. And regardless if I think I can do it or not, I'm commanded by Christ as a disciple of his to do so. Does Jesus think I can succeed at this? Probably so. Does he think I can bat 1.000? Probably not. But he still tells me to enter the batters box with the intention of getting a base hit. Will I hit the ball better on some days more than others? Absolutely. Hmmm. Maybe this isn't as difficult as I think it could be.
I feel intimidated by this to be honest with you. Can I really love others like Christ loves me? Is it possible? If so, how possible is it. I know it's not possible if I don't try. And regardless if I think I can do it or not, I'm commanded by Christ as a disciple of his to do so. Does Jesus think I can succeed at this? Probably so. Does he think I can bat 1.000? Probably not. But he still tells me to enter the batters box with the intention of getting a base hit. Will I hit the ball better on some days more than others? Absolutely. Hmmm. Maybe this isn't as difficult as I think it could be.
