“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”—John 13:34–35 (NIV) 

In college, I had a professor challenge us young aspiring pastors by saying, “If you were on trial in a foreign country and your crime was being a ‘Christian’ would there be enough evidence to convict you?” In today’s passage, Jesus unveils what would mark us guilty of this crime: love. 

Over the years, I’ve found it fascinating that Jesus didn’t say the world will know we’re His followers because of all of our blessings. He didn’t say it was if we experience a miracle, a healing, or even a deliverance. It’s also has nothing to do with our favor, success, or even how well we steward our things. Instead, the evidence that stacks against us and condemns us guilty of being a “Christian” is found in how well we LOVE! 

By the way, when we selflessly love one another, that’s when we give the greatest evidence that we’re actually followers of this Jesus Christ. Love seems to be a rare earth mineral in our time. Our post-modern age has led to tribalism—and tribalism is beginning to foster disillusionment and hate. Years of people believing whatever they want to has led us to a place where we can no longer bring resonance to reality. The longer we stay in this confusing place, the angrier everyone will become. 

Yet, Jesus has a simple and profound solution for us as Christ followers that we should have all learned in Sunday school. For those of us who are married and have a spouse, we’re to love our spouse. If we have a neighbor, we’re to love our neighbor. If we have enemies, we’re to love our enemies—I could keep this list going! In all of our interactions with others, with all of the possible relational angles, we have the same call: to LOVE. 

But what does that mean? What is love? 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (NIV) sums it up best: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Friend, I’m praying for you in this season. I know it feels impossible “to love” right now given the state of the world and our nation. And although no one has all the answers, as believers, we do know two things: The greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love people. 

Let’s boldly do as Jesus commands and let the whole world know by how well we LOVE that we are in fact Christians—guilty as charged—and proud of it! 

Pause: Are you loving God and loving people? Are you loving your enemies right now? What does that look like? 

Practice: Find one or two people who need the love of God and show them unconditional, sacrificial love. Pray for them, share Jesus with them, and be a good friend. 

Pray: Our Father, who is Love itself—pouring mercy and compassion over Your children—we lift our hearts to You. Jesus, You commanded us to love one another as You love us. Empower us today to walk in that command. Give us tender hearts for one another. Teach us to walk in humility before each other. Shape in us hearts yielded to the conviction of love. Do this, Lord, so the watching world may know we’re truly Your disciples. Forgive us, Father, for the times we’ve failed to obey this call to love. Thank You for Your mercy that meets us in our weakness. Keep us from the tempter who would stir up strife and discord in Your church. Break every chain that hinders us from walking in Your ways. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. I pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.