Love One Another

Following the Passover meal before His crucifixion, Jesus gave a new commandment to the eleven disciples (Judas Iscariot had left the group to go make arrangements for the betrayal). John 13:34-35 says, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

What was new about this commandment? Jesus had already taught that to love God and others were the two greatest commandments. Now, Jesus was commanding them to love as He loved, and the ultimate example of His love was about to be demonstrated.

From the N.T. study guide: "Jesus is the Father's gift to all men. In offering his Son as he did, our Father in heaven has shown us our truest example of pure love. Out of his divine love came a willingness to endure the sacrifice of his Son - the incomparable suffering in Gethsemane, the abuse by Romans and Jews, the mockery of a trial, the pain and horror of a crucifixion. And why? Because our Father in heaven loves us and knew that we could return to him only through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

"The Savior did not have to die, for he held death in abeyance. His was a willing sacrifice, a supreme act of love. He lived a life of complete obedience to the Father's will. In giving his life willingly as he did, our Savior placed the seal of divine love on his life and mission and demonstrated the course which all men should emulate.

"It has been aptly observed that while many of the world's great religious leaders taught the principle of love, Jesus is the only one who could truly say, "Follow me," for he alone not only taught the principle but exemplified it. And we are to love one another as he has loved us. "By this," he says, "shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

How do we acquire that kind of love, and what is it? The LDS Bible Dictionary calls it Charity and defines it this way: "The highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection; the pure love of Christ. It is never used to denote alms or deeds or benevolence, although it may be a prompting motive." For a more complete description and to learn how to acquire it we turn to Moroni 8:45-48 (Moroni is found in the Book of Mormon. A similiar passage is found in 1 Cor 13:1-13):

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fall--

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ, that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."