Welcome to the NeighborhoodSample

Jesus spoke this verse to His disciples the night He was arrested before being killed and then coming back to life. That means His disciples heard this before they had any idea just how far Jesus’ love would go. When Jesus said to love each other as He had loved them, they probably had an idea of being patient and compassionate and forgiving—all great things. But when they remembered Jesus’ words after He had been wrongfully accused and sentenced, after dying without so much as a word blaming the disciples, it would have looked different. Because then, Jesus’ love went as far as death.

Chances are you’ll never have to die for someone else. But giving of yourself, selfless living, is a kind of death. It’s a death to your rights, your wants. In other words, it’s not easy. But this is the kind of love Jesus invites us to. A love that gives of ourselves, just like He did. Who is someone in your life you need to love like Jesus does—even if it’s difficult? What’s one way you could love them how Jesus does this week?