The apostle John wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Where I go, you cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another”, and in chapter thirteen and verse thirty-five of his book John shared how Jesus said, “by this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another” where we read:
By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.
The verse reads, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, ...” John began with the words, “by this shall all men know” which means “through loving one another will each, every, the whole and everyone of the people both male and female understand, perceive, notice and discern” “that you are my disciples” or “that you, disciples of Jesus, exist as my, Jesus', students, pupils and attendants”. John shared how Jesus said people will perceive and understand that His “disciples” belong to Him when they act according to the following manner.
The verse goes on to say, “if you have love one to another.” John continued with the words, “if you have love” which means “whether you, disciples of Jesus, hold, own and possess fondness, contentedness and pleasure” “one to another” or “one particular disciple of Jesus toward another disciple of Jesus”. John shared how Jesus said people would perceive who His “disciples” were by the way they “loved” one another.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how the world becomes aware of who Jesus' “disciples” are by the way they “love” one another. Followers of Jesus are to “love” each other, and to do so in a way that is visible so people “know” to whom they belong. Christians are to “get along” with one another, and there should always be motivation to “love” each other as Jesus loves them. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they surrender their life to Him, they are to “love” others even as “loved” them.
Next time John shares how Peter asks Jesus, “Lord, Where are you going?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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