“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”––John 13:34 (NIV)

My all-time favorite Christmas carol—O Holy Night, beautifully encapsulates all of the themes of advent. Nested in its verses we see the themes of peace, hope, and joy. And in the last stanza we see a brilliant picture of the fourth theme—the love Jesus brought to the world: 

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace (emphasis added)

Love for this world prompted God to send Jesus to us (John 3:16-17). And Jesus brought this love to us. 

His Law Is Love

The words of O Holy Night reflect beautifully these words of Jesus:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37b-40 NIV)

Jesus taught us that all of the commandments in the Bible can simply be summed up in love—for God and for people. Throughout His life, Jesus demonstrated love for God through His obedience (John 8:29). And His love for God inspired His ministry.

His Ministry Is Love

From the beginning of His ministry to the end, Jesus loved others by serving them. Examples of Jesus healing people, feeding the crowds, and teaching the multitudes fill the gospels. But one act of service clearly illustrates the intentionality and humility it takes to genuinely love others as ourselves.

Jesus and His disciples were celebrating the Passover Meal. In their culture, people ate at low tables where everyone’s feet were clearly visible. Since everyone wore sandals on dusty desert paths, feet became very dirty. So before a communal meal, it was customary to have their feet washed—a task generally reserved for the lowest of servants. But in this case, no one’s feet had been washed. So Jesus got up from the meal to wash the feet of His disciples (John 13:2-5). 

This act astonished the apostles. None of them had considered lowering themselves in order to meet this obvious, yet neglected, need. But Jesus, their Lord and Teacher, loved them enough to do so.

His Call Is Love

Immediately after washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus asked them if they understood what He had done for them. Then He called them to wash each others’ feet (John 13:12-15).

Washing feet before meals is not a cultural need for us. But we can imitate Jesus’ love for others. It takes intentionality—looking for the needs of the people around us. It also requires humility—sacrificing our own agendas, needs, or even our perceived rights. But loving like Jesus also carries a promise:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34 NIV)

The love of Jesus differs from the one the world knows. He purposefully met the neglected needs of others. This is the love we remember and celebrate at Christmas. And the one we are called to imitate.

During the holiday season, people may feel more neglected than at any other time. Christmas gives us a unique opportunity to serve others with the love of Jesus.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for loving us so deeply. We pray to imitate Your intentional, sacrificial love this season, and throughout the year. In this way, we pray others will know we are Your disciples—and that they will be drawn to Your love. Amen.