“And they’ll know we are Christians
By our love, by our love
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”
This was one of my favorite songs when I was growing up in the church. I loved the melody. I loved thinking about how we were called to love one another in the church and also love those who are outside of the church. The idea that people are supposed to be able to identify us as Christians by how we love people was a wonderful idea.
The words of this song are actually taken from John 13:34-35. In this passage, Jesus gives his disciples an object lesson in what it really looks like to love one another. Honestly, this is a lesson we often need to revisit. Sadly, love is not what Christians in our day are often known for.
I think part of the problem is we don’t know how to love. The world around us doesn’t give us great examples. How can we learn how to love? We can look to Jesus. He shows us an amazing example of what love looks like in John chapter 13.
An Object Lesson in Love
The chapter begins with Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. In a place in time where people either went barefoot or only wore sandals and didn’t often take baths, this was not a pleasant task. It was usually reserved for the lowliest servant to do. Despite the fact that Jesus is God himself and has all the power, might, and glory of God, he humbles himself to wash his disciples’ feet.
In many ways, this action is just a clear example of something Jesus has already done. He’s already given up his place at God’s side and humbled himself to become part of humanity (see Phillippians 2:6-11). Jesus is willing to take on the dirty jobs for the sake of those he loves. He’s willing to become human. He’s willing to touch people’s nasty feet. No task is too low or beneath him.
An Object Lesson in Loving Those That Don’t Deserve It
He’s not just willing to do the dirty work, he’s willing to do the dirty work for people who don’t deserve it. Notice that he washes the disciples’ feet before Judas leaves. That means he was on his knees, washing the feet of the man who was going to betray him. He knew Judas was going to betray him, and he washed his feet anyway. He didn’t treat him any differently from the rest of his disciples.
He washes Peter’s feet too, someone who is going to pretend he doesn’t know him. He even takes the time to answer Peter’s questions! Despite Peter’s shortcomings, Jesus still loves him and is willing to wash his feet, fully knowing that in a few hours, Peter is going to deny knowing who Jesus is.
Jesus was fully human. I’m sure he felt emotional pain knowing that one of his disciples was going to betray him and another was going to deny knowing him. Despite that, he was willing to show love to both of those disciples and serve them.
The Lesson Continues
After Jesus finished washing the disciples’ feet, he instructed them that they should do the same thing for each other. He’s showing them how they can love one another: by serving, by being willing to do the lowliest job, even for people who don’t deserve it. He has provided them an object lesson for a new commandment he gives them in John 13: 34-35: “A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”
This command wasn’t just for the disciples way back then. It’s a command for us today too. What does it look like for us to live out this radical love that Jesus demonstrated today?
Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.
Thankfully, foot washing is no longer a part of our society. You might not be called to touch people’s feet, but you are still called to get your hands dirty when it comes to demonstrating love. What are the lowly jobs you could do today to serve others, both within the church and outside of it? Find those things and do them!
During our current #quartentinelife that might mean offering to grocery shop for elderly or sick neighbors or help them figure out how to use technology. It could mean serving your spouse by changing more than your fair share of dirty diapers or doing more of the cooking. It might mean calling up a neighbor or coworker who isn’t the easiest to love. Spending valuable time checking in on a family member or friend who you know is going to talk your ear off about their latest medical problem might not be the most fun thing to do, but it is a way you can show love to someone who might not be getting much of it right now.
Jesus demonstrates that loving people isn’t always fun. It isn’t always easy or glamorous, but it’s what we’re called to do. What can you do today to show love to someone around you?
Don’t be afraid to love.
Jesus doesn’t call us to do anything he didn’t do himself. That means we are called to love and serve everyone. It doesn’t matter if they’re a jerk, hypocrite, scumbag, ignorant, mean, narcissistic, flashy, weird or just boring, we’re called to love them.. We are never to reserve our love only for those who “deserve” it.
Take a moment and think about your own life. Do you only love those who love you back? Who do you have a hard time loving? Figure out a way to show love to and serve that person. Even if that person has hurt you deeply, you are called to show them love.
That could mean showing grace to a bad boss, an ex, a friend who betrayed you, a business partner who cheated you, a child who disowned you, or a mom who is just going insane during this whole quarantine thing. While we don’t want to put ourselves in situations where we could be abused, we do want to put ourselves in situations where we’re showing love and serving those who seek to do us harm.
Depending on the situation we can do that from afar or by putting ourselves in that person’s life in some way. That could simply mean praying for them, sending a text, making a phone call, sending a small gift, checking in on them, giving them some time alone, any number of things.
If we are able to love like Jesus loved, if we do what we can to fulfill this commandment, we really will be known for our love. Let’s do what we can to make sure Christians are known for love once again.
Photo by Mayur Gala on Unsplash