BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOWYE ARE MY DISCIPLES

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love oneanother; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall allmen know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (Jn13:34).

 This famous statement of our Lord is so well known to mostof us that few of us will take time to meditate on it. Few of us, for example,wonder why the Lord says this commandment is new when the command to love ourneighbours as ourselves is clearly already given in the Law of Moses, andindeed, in the Law of creation imprinted in the heart of man created in theimage of God (see Leviticus 19:18; Romans 2:14–15; 1 John 2:7). Few of us wouldhave understood as Calvin did, that "In order to impress more deeply… onthe minds of His disciples the doctrine of brotherly love, Christ recommends iton the ground of novelty; as if He had said, ‘I wish you continually toremember this commandment, as if it had been a law but lately made’" (JohnCalvin on John 13:34).

Again, few of us would have considered how our Lord’s commandmentcould be obeyed, for after all, love does not seem to be something that can belegislated. Worst still, many of us who came through contemporary worshipbackgrounds would have been first introduced to this verse through the littlesong based on it, so that we tend to think that the Lord is enjoining aromantic aura of light-headed tenderness towards one another. But this isclearly not what the Lord was intending to teach. When He teaches us: "Ifye love me, keep my commandments" (Jn 14:15), He is effectively teachingus that love is not just a feeling. The feeling of affection must be present,but it must be an affection that manifests itself in actions. The Apostle Johnpicks up on this idea when he urges us: "My little children, let us notlove in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 Jn 3:18).How easy it is to say that we love someone, yet how difficult it is to actuallymanifest our love one for another. And it is even more difficult, it seems, tomanifest our love in a way that others may know we are the disciples of Christ.

A congregation in which members begin to hug one another afterworship service may indeed appear to be very loving to anyone who is present tobehold. But this surely cannot be what the Lord or the Apostle John mean. Howthen should we manifest our love one for another, that we may bear witness toall men as a church?

May I suggest four ways as revealed in the Word of God.

Love in Material Terms

First, the Apostle John suggests that a practical way of showinglove to the brethren would be material help for the destitute: "But whosohath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up hisbowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 Jn3:17). James elaborates this idea in his illustration of genuine faith:"If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one ofyou say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding yegive them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth itprofit?" (Jas 2:15–16).

In the early church, this was one of the most visible ways inwhich the churches exhibited brotherly love (cf. Acts 2:44–45; 4:34). Today, inan affluent society, such as in Singapore,there is little occasion to demonstrate love in this manner. Even those who aretechnically in debt are usually not in debt on account of poverty, butnecessity or luxury. And such debts are usually serviced in ways that are hardlyfelt by the debtors. However, are there not other believers who are lessprivileged than us in other countries? If we know of any, should we not learnto share our wealth? Also, with rising medical costs in Singapore, itis increasingly likely that a poorer member of the church could be thrown intodire needs when a member of the family is hospitalised for some major illness.If this happens, it would be imperative for the church corporately andindividually to rally to help. This would certainly be a manifestation of ourlove one for another. And it will be a manifestation that can indeed be seen byothers, such as the relatives and friends of the beneficiary.

Bear Ye One Another’sBurdens

Secondly, the Apostle Paul, quite obviously referring to this commandmentof Christ in John 13:34, teaches us: "Bear ye one another’s burdens, andso fulfil the law of Christ" (Gal 6:2). The context (especially verses 1and 3) suggests to us that by ‘burdens’ Paul meant faults or weaknesses ofothers. Calvin comments beautifully:

To love is not to wish well one to another, but to bear oneanother’s burdens, that is, to bear those things which are grievous unto you,and which you would not willingly bear. Therefore, Christians must have strongshoulders and mighty bones, that they may bear flesh, that is, the weakness oftheir brethren. Love therefore is mild, courteous, patient, not in receiving,but in giving; for it is constrained to wink at many things, and to bear them.Faithful teachers see in the Church many errors and offences which they arecompelled to bear. In household affairs there are many things done whichdisplease the master of the house. But if we bear and wink at our own vices andoffences which we daily commit, let us also bear other men’s faults, accordingto this saying: "Bear ye one another’s burdens," and: "Thoushalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

It is sad that many of us, who claim to be the spiritualdescendants of Calvin, often fail to bear with the faults of one another. Thishas often resulted in bitter intramural quarrels within and between churches sothat the name of Christ is blasphemed among the Gentiles (cf. Rom 2:24). It istrue that love "rejoiceth in the truth" (1 Cor 13:6), and that truthcannot be compromised for the sake of unity. But can anyone of us honestly saythat we know everything and that all that we know are correct in everythingthat we say, do and believe. There are indeed fundamental truths in theScriptures which an honest study of Word of God will leave us without any doubt,such as: the doctrine of the triunity of God, the deity of Christ, thepersonality of the Holy Spirit, the bodily resurrection of Christ, the realityof miracles recorded in the Scriptures, the visible corporal return of Christas King and Judge, the inerrancy of the Word of God, justification by gracethrough faith alone, the sovereignty of God, particular substitutionaryatonement of Christ, etc. But are there not also many areas where goodChristian men differ? And are there not different degrees of convictions in sofar as the Christian life is concerned? Should we not learn to bear with oneanother in these areas? One is an amillennialist, another is a historicpremillennialist. Should we not bear with one another? One will take publictransport on the Lord’s Day, another will not. Should we not bear with oneanother? One will sing only psalms, another will sing hymns too. Should we notbear with one another? One will attend evening service and prayer meetingsregularly, but another will not. Should we not bear with one another, even aswe pray that more will be committed to attend to these means of grace?

Beloved, let us bear with one another, and with brethren fromother churches who may differ with us on some secondary issues. "If it bepossible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men" (Rom12:18). Only when we do so, than we may clearly be a testimony to all men thatwe are the disciples of Christ.

Weep With Those Who Weep

"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep"(Rom 12:15). This instruction by the Apostle Paul is but one of hisapplications of his general command that we should love each other withsincerity (see verse 9). This is yet another way in which brotherly love one toanother can be manifested to the world. We rejoice with those who rejoice onsuch occasions as weddings. A notable presence of church members at a Christianwedding, whether it be at the church service or the banquet, can be anoverwhelming experience for unbelieving relatives and friends of the couple.

Similarly, we weep with those who weep when we appear at thehospital to comfort a brother or sister in Christ who is bed-ridden or iskeeping vigil by the bedside of a loved one who is critically ill. Many of uswonder what we can do at the hospital. We may not know what to say, and we mayfeel uncomfortable just standing there and doing nothing. We know we can praywith our anxious brethren, but some of us may reason that we can pray at homeas well. Well, beloved, those of us who have been through similar crises, wouldno doubt testify that the presence of members of the church itself can be agreat encouragement. It is a comforting thought that the church cares, and thatwe are not weeping alone.

We weep with those who weep also when we go to the ‘house ofmourning’ to comfort the bereaved. The presence of a large number of churchmembers at the memorial service of a departed believer can be tremendoustestimony of Christian love to the relatives and unbelieving friends of thedeceased. This applies also in the case of the demise of a loved one of amember of the church—even where it is not a Christian funeral. Members of thechurch must, of course, not participate in any of the pagan rites or take anyof the superstitious tokens (e.g., red strings or towels) related to thefuneral. Your mere presence could serve a twofold purpose of encouragement andwitness.

Avenge Not Yourselves

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give placeunto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith theLord" (Rom 12:19). This is another application of the Apostle Paul underhis general instruction to Christians to love one another. It is another means,albeit negatively, by which the church testifies that it comprises disciples ofChrist. When brethren in Christ take one another to court for one reason oranother, the testimony of Christian love is immediately destroyed, and the Nameof Christ brought into disrepute. Paul elaborates on this point in 1Corinthians 6:6–8. "Brother goeth to law with brother, and that before theunbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go tolaw one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rathersuffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that yourbrethren" (1 Cor 6:5–8). It is the epitome of hatred between Christians tobe fighting over personal honour or some material possession with one anotherin public and before an unbelieving judge.

Beloved, if ever we have a situation in which one of us feelscheated by another, let us bear in mind both the Lord’s general commandment andthe Apostle Paul’s specific instruction and refrain at all cost to take abrother in Christ to court. The child of God ought rather to suffer lost ratherthan to tarnish the Name of Christ and His Church.

Conclusion

Love in sharing, love in forbearance, love in sympathy, love innon-retaliation. These are the ways in which the Christian Church may manifestbrotherly love to the unbelieving world. May the Lord grant us that we love oneanother so tenderly that these things become very natural for us, so that wemanifest love one to another without any second thoughts. But as we worktowards maturity in love as a church, let us not neglect to make use of everyopportunity to witness to the world as the disciples of Christ who laid downHis life for us (1 Jn 3:16).