“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
(John 13:35 NIV)
I admired many things about my grandmother, especially her ability to love everyone. When close friends, who had never met her, came to pay their respects after her funeral and saw the slideshow of her beautiful life, I told them that she would have loved and accepted them just like her own granddaughters. And anyone who has met her will tell you that that’s a fact. She saw the good in everyone and so she was able to love everyone. There wasn’t a person she didn’t like or love. It just wasn’t possible for her not to love people. And she was loved too.
In today’s passage, Jesus tells us that the distinguishing mark in being His disciple is loving others. Not just the ones who are good to us, but even the ones who are not. That’s what made His ministry unique. While other teachers promoted love for one’s neighbour, Jesus taught and practised love for one’s enemies. It’s what set Him apart and it’s what sets us apart. Because anyone can show love to those who love them back, but it takes supernatural power to love those who don’t love us in return. How about you? Will people remember you for your life of love?
Rising with the Son 