At his final meal with his disciples, Jesus made clear what would set them apart from others.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples…” he said.

What do you expect Jesus to assert is the defining mark of a Christian? His answer is disarming: “…if you love one another.”

Jesus’ people ought not be distinguished primarily by their religious observance or theological knowledge, but by their sincere, selfless care for one another.

It’s never easy to go first. Before Jesus calls his followers to love, he walks towards the cross to show them his limitless love for them. He doesn’t call them to step out into the unknown, but to follow in his footsteps: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:35)

When you know that you are so loved that the creator of the world would die for you, you are equipped with the spiritual and emotional resources to care for others. There’s enough in the tank to give to others, even if it’s not always reciprocated.

Not long after this meal, Jesus leaves this world and leaves behind a gathering of people who seek, falteringly, to love one another in the same way that they have been loved. The New Testament is full of “one another” encouragements that sketch the shape of this love. This term in Chapel in the Senior School, we are exploring these “one another” commands and imagining together what it would be like if we lived in a community like this. Imagine if our friendships were open, and we always made room for one more, just like we’ve been welcomed in by God. Imagine if we bore the cost of forgiveness instead of looking for payback, just like we’ve been freely forgiven by God. Imagine if we humbly used our influence for the good of others, just like God did for us.

How can this kind of loving community become reality for us? It’s when we know we don’t need to find it in ourselves to go first. Instead, when we find ourselves filled by the secure and stable love of God, we are able to turn outwards to others to share with them the same love we’ve found. It changes us from the inside out. It’s my prayer that we would know God’s love so deeply that we love one another.