“BY this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” David’s men showed devotion to him as their captain by sharing his exile and privations, when he was hunted as a partridge in the mountains. The accompanying dangers but served to show their recklessness of their own safety, if only he could be gratified, as when the three mightiest broke through an enemy’s host to get him a cup of cold water from Bethlehem’s well. (1 Chron. 11) They had him with them and were his helpers, his champions, ready to do battle for his honor and protection.
So also when Christ was here it was patent to all that the twelve were His disciples. Where He was, they were; or at least, they were not long and not far apart. Though they performed no exploits of devotion, and failed Him when He needed them most, they truly loved Him, and He owned them as His. Now He is speaking in view of His leaving them. When He should be gone to the Father, they should be known as disciples to Him by their love to one another.
An old writer comments: “In this they must be singular; whereas the way of the world is to be every one for himself, they should be hearty for one another.” Their mutual love would excite attention. It would convey a clear and definite message to the unbelieving world. For so contrary to the world’s spirit of selfishness would this love be, that the world would have to account for it by exploring outside its own heroes, history and nature. Its inquiry being awakened, it would be shut up to only One as explaining the presence of such a rebuke and contradiction to its own jealousies and strivings. That One is Jesus. The men who loved one another as, by the grace of God, the apostles did, must be His disciples.
“Behold, how good and how pleasant!”
These early apostles and prophets passed away, yet this testimony of brotherly love would never lose its force. The opportunity for its exercise would never be absent, and it would abide as the clearest witness through the ages to their living and invisible Master. Wherever two or three of them, though poor and ignorant in the world’s esteem, and least in spiritual attainment, should show this love amongst themselves, there would ascend a savor of Christ. The ointment poured on Aaron’s head, consecrating him for his holy office, ran down to the skirts of his robe. Its scent, however far it descended and spread, diffused the divine honor of holy appointment resting upon his head. (Heb. 5:44And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. (Hebrews 5:4).) The odor filled all the house where he was. Psa. 133 applies this resemblance to brethren dwelling together in unity, the bond of which is love. (Col. 3:1414And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (Colossians 3:14).) The same Psalm compares it also to the dew of Hermon refreshing the distant mountains of Zion. So then, within the house and without, the blessing flows. The rich enjoyment of the sanctuary, like sweet-smelling ointment, redolent of Christ in His present glory, and the bringing of life through His Name to those who would otherwise die in their sins, both these are found where love to one another reigns among believers.
The Lord Jesus is not here, but our faith enjoys Him; the world neither sees nor knows Him. Consequently our love to Him is a thing which in itself the world is unable to recognize or appreciate. It is quite otherwise in regard to our love to our brethren. This is open to the eyes and understanding of all, a thing all can value at something of its real worth. Love to one another of that strength and quality denoted by the words, “As I have loved you,” is a love painstaking and lavish, tender yet strong, forgiving but always holy. Observing its peculiar quality, the world is forced to the confession that this love is only learned in one school—where the pupils sit at the feet of Jesus and learn of Him. For other things men may take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus (Acts 4:1313Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)), but none is so certain and ringing a testimony as this love. Even to the world it announces that these are the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Might was the outstanding qualification of those honored worthies of David. But for Christ’s glory, not might, not even power—spiritual powers and gifts as against physical strength—is the crowning evidence of discipleship, but mutual love. “Gifts” are distributed as God wills; not all are apostles or prophets or workers of miracles; but love to one another is all-pervading, the sure mark intended by the Lord to be universally seen in His redeemed so that the world may thereby know that we are His disciples.
To fulfill “HIS commandment” honors HIM.
The Lord towers above all others, masters and leaders among men, in requiring this unique trait among His followers. The world is used to discipline imposed by a present and visible authority among men whose mutual relations count little or nothing to their leader. He may even make their jealousies of each other serve his own selfish schemes. With our Lord and Master this requirement of love between fellow-disciples is paramount, and keeps before the world the witness of Him, “of Jesus and His love.” So far as the eventual effect is concerned, He might have said, “By this shall all men know that I am your Lord.” But then, men do not see Him. They do see His disciples, however, and so He said, “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples.” The love to one another of those it sees is irrefutable evidence to the world of One it does not see—the Lord of those who know His love and own His authority.
On the heathen world, multiplied cases like the love of Paul to the slave Onesimus made their impression. They might only seem to be drop by drop, but being unceasing they wore away the stone of incredulity. The love of Jew to Gentile in spiritual service and of Gentile to Jew in carnal things must have been even more remarkable in the world of nineteen hundred years ago than it would be in certain parts of our modern world if this love suddenly overcame old hatreds that have now blazed up afresh. What common loyalty bound men together in love whom pride of race and position would otherwise have kept forever aloof? The world can only answer, They are the disciples of Christ.
The world cannot know until the day of glory that the Father sent Him Who is our Lord, nor that the Father has loved us as He loved Him. (John 17:2323I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23).) In this day of darkness and unbelief, however, though the world owns Him not, it can never be uncertain as to the identity of these who so love one another—they are the disciples of the Jesus, Whom it rejects.
How is it with ME?
Is this love being shown? Am I making my contribution to this testimony by loving without shame or restraint all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity? And, of course, loving them and showing it, for how else is the world to know of its existence? Or am I adding my influence to foster dissension and discord among fellow-believers, or careless what happens to them? The world is very bitter and cynical about the enmities among the professed followers of the Prince of Peace. It may well be.
Let me not complain that others do not return my love. Rather let me rejoice that my communion with the Lord and Master, Who bore with ungrateful and uncomprehending disciples, is thereby deepened and enlarged. Like Paul, whose ambition ran on the lines of “fellowship with His sufferings,” we will find at times that the more abundantly we love, the less we are loved. (2 Cor. 12:1515And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. (2 Corinthians 12:15).) We may even be dismayed and stumbled at first by this experience. Faith, however, will aid us, looking through the eyes of our Lord, while His Word teaches us how He loves undeterred by thankless requital. Then again, like Paul, with Christ in the great gift and purpose of His love (Eph. 5) before us, let us notwithstanding say, “I will very gladly spend and be spent” for my brothers and sisters for whom He died.
T.D.