March 10: A New Command
♫ Music:
Monday, March 10—Day 6
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35
A New Command
It’s been said that the common denominator in all religions is the Golden Rule: treat others like you’d want to be treated. The Judeo-Christian ethic is no different as Leviticus 19:18 and Matthew 5:43 point out. Why then is Jesus’ command so new? Isn’t it simply the Golden Rule repackaged?
The newness of the command is that we’re called to love even as Jesus loves us.
On the Thursday before Passover, Jesus and his disciples are in an upper room having completed three years of ministry. Jesus stoops to the role of a slave and washes His disciples’ feet — this humble act of service demonstrates the full extent of his love. In essence, Jesus captures three years of ministry in one symbolic act of self-giving love. The Creator of the universe deeply cares for the dirty details of his creation and is willing to get down and messy to be present with his people. He doesn’t simply command us to love others, but shows us what it actually looks like.
The newness of the command is our motivation.
At best, the Golden Rule outwardly motivates us to modify behaviors that seem right for the common good. Jesus provides a wholly different motivation — one that inwardly strengthens us like living waters springing from within. We don’t have to generate anything false or pretentious because we offer love to others. We can love freely because we simply give from love in a desire to share love.
The newness of the command is Jesus himself.
The starting point of Jesus’ command is not moral but relational. We are not called to love others as a way to be good; we are called to love others as we experience Christ’s goodness. We don’t attain a closer relationship with God by legalistically obeying His commands. God desires to relate with us where we are, and the experience of his kindness invites us to join him in loving others. Life isn’t simply lived for him, but primarily with him.
Take a few minutes and prayerfully listen to Oh the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus.
Hear the music, appreciating the melodies and harmonies accentuated by the strings. Take in the poetry of the lyrics, considering the ocean metaphor. Reflect on tangible ways, big or small, that God has expressed his deep love to you the past few days or weeks. Perhaps the celebratory tone of the lyrics set in a minor key will catch you by surprise. If so, you might want to reflect on a time that God’s love was present in an unexpected circumstance.
Take a few more minutes and prayerfully gaze at Aime Morot’s The Good Samaritan
Observe the artist’s use of color, light and shadow, being aware of what your eyes are drawn to. Notice the body language of the victim, the Samaritan, and even the donkey. Look at their faces, allowing their expressions to evoke emotions. Pay attention to your inner responses as you absorb the scene. Perhaps the gritty depiction provides a fresh glimpse into the dirtiness of the new command. You might even want to reflect on times you felt like the victim or the Samaritan or the donkey.
To close, slowly read Paul’s prayer aloud (maybe even twice!). Imagine him praying this over you. Be attentive to invitations that the Holy Spirit might have for you today.
Prayer
I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit — not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength — that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Amen.
(Ephesians 3:16-21 The Message)
Michael Ahn, Assistant Director of Chapel Programs
The Good Samaritan
Aime Morot
Petit Palais, France
Oil on canvas
About the Artist and Art
Aime Morot (1850-1913) was a French painter in the Academic Art style, who was heavily influenced by Spanish art of the 17th century. Early in his career he excelled in classical and figure paintings, but found the academic art society to be too structured and noisy. From 1870 on, he traveled across Italy and Europe restlessly, eventually exploring as far as India and Africa, where he studied art independently and developed his skills as a painter of animals and society portraits.
Morot treated the parable of the Samaritan helping the wounded man with grave realism. His vigorous style found favor with contemporary critics who paid tribute to the virtuosity of this fine painting. In true Morot fashion, the portrayal of the laboring donkey caught his attention more than the historical narrative, and sparked numerous studies of horses, lions, and tigers.
About the Music
Oh the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus lyrics:
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current
Of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to
Thy glorious rest above!
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth
never, nevermore!
How He watches o'er His loved ones,
died to call them all His own
how for them He intercedeth, watcheth
o'er them from the throne!
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus,
'Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!
About the Performers
From their inception, Selah has always been synonymous with the singing of hymns. In fact, the understated beauty of the trio’s 1999 debut, Be Still My Soul, helped initiate a hymn revival in Christian music that is still thriving today. Their discography has significantly re-popularized the church’s greatest songs while decorating the popular group with numerous Dove Awards, number one singles, sold out concert tours and over two and half million albums sold.
Website: http://selahonline.com/
About the Composer
“Oh the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus,” written by S. Trevor Francis in 1875, was put to music in 1890 by Thomas J. Williams.