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MAIN COMMAND (JOHN 15:12-17)

REFLECTION

The main command is the theme for our reflection. A main command is the most important authoritative order from a teacher or a sovereign that must be obeyed by disciples or subjects. We shall reflect on the fact that the main command of our Lord Jesus Christ is unconditional love.

Beloved in the Lord, Jesus’ main command is for us to love other people unconditionally. How must we demonstrate this love? He gives us the vivid answer when He said to the disciples “Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:13) It would appear Jesus had contradicted the existing main command in the law which says in Leviticus 19:18 that “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the LORD.” While we may be thinking that Jesus came to abolish the old law of “love your neighbour as yourself,” it is important to note that Jesus said “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. (Matthew 5:17).

Beloved in the Lord, Jesus did not abolish the main and original command in the law and for that matter Leviticus 19:18, Jesus rather gave spirit and meaning to the letter of the law. After obeying the command to love your neighbour as yourself, the next important question is, to what extent can I love my neighbour as myself? No wonder, Peter asked Jesus ““Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? (Matthew 18:21) In other words, to what extent or what is the standard of measuring my love for others? Jesus’ answer to us is that He is our example or standard of measurement when it comes to obeying the main command of loving your neighbour as yourself.  In other words, we must love our neighbour or everyone as ourselves just as Jesus has loved us unconditionally and laid down His life for us. Jesus is the blueprint or perfect example of love.  He explained the kind of love he expects us to show to our neighbours when He said “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. (John 15:13-14)

In Matthew 25: 34-40 Jesus goes ahead to give us the practical ways in which His main command of “love your neighbour as I have loved you” will be measured by God in our lives. He said in the parable of the goats and sheep,  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’..‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:34-36,40) Jesus’ main command of love is both unconditional and sacrificial. Do we love people because of what will gain from them or our love for them is unconditional and purely sacrificial? Can we love other people without expecting anything from them?

Again, It is always important to remember that our fundamental calling is to demonstrate the unconditional and sacrificial love of Christ to all and sundry, and by doing that, we shall continue to bear fruits that please God. Once we bear fruit of love that pleases God we are assured of our prayers being answered by Him. Jesus said “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit —fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:16-17) The lent season is another opportunity to reflect on our understanding of Jesus’ main command for us to love others as He has loved us. One of the cardinal focuses of Lent is almsgiving or demonstrating love by sharing with the underprivileged or the poor. We fast so that we can save and share our food, water, clothes and money with those who are hungry, thirsty and naked.

In summary we have discovered that among all the teachings of Christ, His main command is for us to unconditionally and sacrificially love other people. Let us continue to practicalise the main command of love so that we can make our faith and Christian lives meaningful and pleasing to God.

PRAYER

Thank you Jesus for first loving us. May we be empowered through the Holy Spirit to obey Your main command of loving others just as You have loved us. Amen.