Tonight on the Christian calendar is Maundy Thursday. “Maundy" is a shortened form of mandatum (Latin), which means "command” or mandate. It was on the Thursday of Christ's final week before being crucified and resurrected that He said this commandment to His disciples.
Jesus and his disciples had just shared what was known as the Last Supper and he was washing their feet when he stated: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34, ESV) John records the start of these events this way: “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (John 13:1, ESV)
We are to love one another as Christ loved us. One of the great examples of the love of Christ is recorded by John.
Love for others provides hope in truth and enters into their suffering.
