Jesus prepared his disciples for a worldwide takeover. His Kingdom is like no other. It has a citizenry born of the Holy Spirit, not man. It conquers empires by taking hearts, not prisoners. It fights its wars against invisible forces, not flesh and blood. How do we know this Kingdom when we come upon it? What of the stranger who knows nothing of biblical conversion and worship? What is there to convince the soul that he has found his home?
Jesus told the disciples: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Jesus’ Kingdom is evidenced by this one thing. A thing that no other kingdom in history has ever been known for. His disciples had been taught God’s command to, “Love thy neighbour as thyself” from birth. It was an old commandment from Leviticus 19:18. What was new about Jesus’ commandment to ‘love for one another?’ Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34).The unmistakable defining quality of Christians, that cannot be missed by unbelievers, and is the reason for their very fellowship: Is loving one another as Jesus loves them!
Which makes me the blessed of all men. From the day I set foot in the Lord’s church I have been surrounded by brothers and sisters who love each other as Jesus loves them. (No doubt, there have been notable exceptions, but they are far from being the rule.) These are brothers and sisters from around the world; they care, and it shows.“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).We walk with the King together. By our new nature, we shine forth the light of his selfless love. By it we will take the world.
John Staiger
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