Lesson 6. The Unheard New Commandment

Jesus lived for thirty years in Nazareth, where He was in favour with God and man, and the grace of God was upon Him. After this, He was called by the Father to His ministry. Another three and a half years passed, and His earthly mission approached its culmination. He knew what awaited Him, and Christ’s heart trembled. Just before His death, He called His twelve disciples to Himself and decided to reveal something very important to them. But first, He allowed Judas to make his final decision to betray Him and to leave them all.

And so Jesus, knowing that His hour had come and that He would soon die for the sins of humanity, gathered the eleven disciples and decided to tell them something very important. How His heart ached with the realization that they would not hear Him—and that even if they heard, they would not understand! Nevertheless, He solemnly declared: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34–35). He understood that they would not hear Him and, even if they heard, would not understand; yet He still hoped that they would at least pay attention. When He said this, Peter’s response confirmed His fears.

Jesus gave some further instruction, and then He again proclaimed the commandment to love one another—and afterward proclaimed it once more.

As we read the account of Christ’s life, we see that He taught, but He commanded nothing. Yet immediately before His death, He spoke the most important thing that had to be said before the crucifixion and had to enter the New Testament. And the word was spoken. The entire universe heard the command of the Son of God that from that time onward, all Christ’s followers were being given the most powerful force in the universe—Agape Love. Jesus commanded, “Love one another.” The original says, “Agape one another.” God’s Angels stood still in rapture: now the inhabitants of earth would become like God and love as He loves. How wonderful! But instead of cries of joy, they heard questions about completely different matters. Their astonishment knew no bounds. In this gift, God was offering them Himself and all Heaven, yet they did not hear.

Jesus knew that they were not yet ready for such a turn of events, but He did not condemn them and gave them more detailed explanations. Over three and a half years, He had become accustomed to the disciples not immediately understanding the meaning of what He said. And He promised them Himself in the gift of the Holy Spirit. Heaven again rejoiced: through this gift, the inhabitants of earth, like the angels, would be directly connected with Jesus and have continual fellowship with Him, and through Him with the Father. It was impossible even to dream of a better condition! The human family would become one with the Heavenly family. People would become like God. They would love one another with Heavenly love! What joy!

The entire invisible spiritual world listened with delight to every word of Jesus. The plan of Salvation and its continuing influence were being opened before the disciples.

The instruction concluded with Jesus’ prayer, and the prayer itself concluded with a request for Heavenly love for Christ’s disciples.

Heaven rejoiced; the prayer was answered. If the ransom for humanity from the dominion of sin was paid, then all the commands Jesus had given before the crucifixion would come into force, and the disciples would receive unlimited access to Heaven and to its treasures of God’s love and grace. At last, people would understand what happiness is. They would love one another—what a beautiful sight for all Heaven! In a world filled with sin, people like Jesus would live. They would possess agape love for one another and for their enemies, and through this gift they would reveal God’s character to the world.

From that time onward, God’s character would be revealed to the world and restored in the human being.

Only one thing remained: to ransom humanity from the power of eternal death. Jesus made His decision and courageously took this step.

1. Read the commandments concerning love in chapters 13 and 15 of the Gospel of John. They speak of the same thing and sound like commandments, but they are expressed differently.

2. Please read 1 John 4:7–12, 16, 20–21; 1 John 3:16; and Leviticus 19:18 in the light of our lesson.

3. Why did Jesus pronounce the commandment of love three times?

4. Why did Peter not hear Jesus?

5. Have you heard this commandment?

6. How does a commandment differ from an ordinary rule?