A New Command

“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

God loved us into existence and created us in His image. Therefore, we were made to love one another. However, the absence of love is demonstrated very early in Scripture as when in anger Cain killed his brother Abel. This can make one wonder who taught hate so soon after Creation. Many years later, Jesus came teaching that we are to love one another. Since His disciples didn't seem to comprehend that the God of love created us to love one another, perhaps that is why He then called it a "new command." Now, after all this time, much of the world is still confused about how we are to love one another, even as we claim Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is really quite simple: Being a Christian means loving one another like Jesus Christ loved us all. And He laid down His life to make it possible. Only love can conquer hate.