The command from Jesus to “love one another as I have loved you” is found in John 15:12. This verse comes in the midst of Jesus’ famous discourse on the vine and the branches. In John 15, Jesus uses the imagery of a vineyard to illustrate the relationship between Himself as the vine, God the Father as the vine-dresser, and believers as the branches.
In verse 9, Jesus says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” He then goes on to explain that by abiding in Him and keeping His commandments, His disciples will remain in His love, just as He kept the Father’s commandments and remains in the Father’s love (v.10). So in the context, the command to “love one another” is preceded by Jesus’ own love for His disciples and is linked to remaining in that love.
When Jesus says “love one another as I have loved you,” He is calling His followers to demonstrate the same kind of sacrificial, selfless, gracious love toward one another that He modeled during His earthly ministry. The extent of Jesus’ love is demonstrated supremely on the cross, where He laid down His life for His sheep (John 10:11). This agape love is the type of love Jesus commands His disciples to have.
So what are some specific ways Jesus loves His disciples that they are now called to emulate in their love for one another?
- Jesus loved them patiently and without condition, even when they messed up or misunderstood Him. We see this displayed in how He deals graciously with the disciples despite their repeated failings to love and serve Him well (John 13-17).
- Jesus loved them sacrificially and was willing to lay down His life for them (John 15:13). He served them and gave of Himself fully for their good.
- Jesus loved them deeply in relationship as friends, not just as Messiah to servants (John 15:15). He wants His followers to demonstrate personal, intimate love for one another in community.
- Jesus loved His disciples so much that He shared all He heard from the Father with them (John 15:15). That is the depth of openness and candor His love fostered.
- Jesus loved them enough to send the Holy Spirit after He departed, so they would not be left alone (John 14:15-31). He made future provision because His love remained.
As the John 13-17 discourse makes clear, Jesus’ love for His followers was sacrificial, serving, humbling, welcoming, and rooted in grace and patience for their weaknesses. The disciples had witnessed these demonstrations of profound love for 3+ years as they walked with Christ. Now, He makes it clear that this is the model of how they must love one another.
The primacy of this command to love fellow believers is echoed in other teachings of Jesus as well. In John 13:34-35, as Jesus prepares to depart, He tells His disciples: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Here again, Jesus reiterates that the distinguishing mark of His followers will be their Christ-like, sacrificial love for fellow believers.
In practice, this love means laying down selfish desires and humbly serving one another, displaying patience and forbearance, caring for the needs of others before one’s own, interceding in prayer, and spurring each other on to Christ-likeness. It means welcoming those from different cultures, races, or socioeconomic status with open arms as brothers and sisters in Christ. The call to love is fleshed out in so many day-to-day ways in the New Testament letters, and it’s rooted in mimicking the perfect love that Christ demonstrated.
One parting thought on this command from Christ: we cannot fulfill it apart from His enablement. Thankfully, Romans 5:5 tells us “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” As believers abide in Christ, the Holy Spirit works in them to pour out divine love. So this call to love like Jesus is not about mustering up love from our own effort or strength of will. Rather, it means walking by the Spirit and drawing deeply from the reservoir of Christ’s love within us.
In summary, when Jesus called His disciples in John 15:12 to “love one another as I have loved you,” He was commanding them to demonstrate the same humble, sacrificial, gracious, thoughtful love He perfectly modeled. This Christ-centered love is empowered by the Holy Spirit and is the distinguishing mark of a genuine disciple. As we grow in love for the bride of Christ, we evidence Jesus’ profound love for us.
Other relevant verses:
1 John 4:7-12 – On the importance of Christ-followers loving one another, because love comes from and points to God.
Romans 12:9-10 – Paul urges believers to demonstrate sincere,
selfless love that honors others above self.
Philippians 2:1-4 – Paul encourages the church to be unified, looking not just to self but to interests of others.
1 Peter 4:8-9 – Peter emphasizes importance of fervent love in covering sins and showing hospitality without grumbling.
1 Corinthians 13 – “Love chapter” describes what godly love among believers looks like in action.
Ephesians 4:1-3 – Paul urges walking in unity and bond of peace, with humility, gentleness and patience in love.
1 John 3:11-18 – John says loving “in deed and truth” means laying down life for brothers.
Proverbs 10:12 – “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”
Colossians 3:12-15 – Put on compassion, kindness, humility, patience and forgiveness because of Christ’s love.
John 13:35 – Jesus said our love for each other will show we are His disciples.