Handle with Care 小心轻放
Dexu Xia
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34
Today's Scripture John 13：31-38
Today's Insights John 13 forms the prelude to Jesus’ Upper Room Discourse (ch. 13-17)—His final teaching time with His disciples before going to the cross. Throughout the discourse, He speaks of the need for those who believe in Him to love one another (13:34-35; 15:12, 17). But before speaking about that important truth, He modeled it by taking upon Himself the place of the lowliest servant and washing His disciples’ feet (13:2-12). He went on to explain that this act was to set an example to them of humble sacrificial service (vv. 12-17). This humble service found its fullest expression when Christ said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (15:13). Those powerful words would be enacted in a few short hours as Jesus would lay down His life on the cross to take away the sins of the world. Because of His sacrificial love for us, He can help us sacrificially love others.
Today's Devotional Stradivarius violins, cellos, and guitars are among the most treasured musical instruments in the world. Crafted during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the pieces are rare and invaluable. Something so precious deserves the utmost care. So when a Stradivarius cello—worth more than $20 million—fell off a table during a photo shoot, it was truly shocking!
Just as a Stradivarius must be handled carefully, so must our relationships. We’re to love others because Christ demonstrated His love toward us. In John 13:34, Jesus gave His disciples a command that requires careful attention: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Why did Christ call it a new command? It was new because it was rooted in the way Jesus loved people. This new command to love wasn’t careless or casual but intentional, precious, and sacrificial. Loving this way would lead to discipleship, self-denial, and possibly even death for the disciples. This care for one another would be how they survived in a difficult and hostile world after Christ’s departure. And Jesus told them, “Everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (v. 35).
Let’s carefully and sacrificially love others—reflecting Jesus’ precious and priceless love.
Reflect & Pray
Why is it difficult to show love to some people? What can help you love them in a way that reflects the love Jesus revealed?
Dear Jesus, thank You for sacrificially loving me. Please help me love others the same way. By Marvin Williams
我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱；我怎样爱你们，你们也要怎样彼此相爱。（约翰福音 13:34）
今日经文: 约翰福音 13:31-38
今日洞见: 约翰福音13章是耶稣在楼上房间里讲道（13-17章）的序言,这是祂被钉十字架前最后一次给门徒的教导。在整篇讲道中，祂都强调信祂的人需要彼此相爱（13:34-35；15:12, 17）。但在谈到这个重要的真理之前，祂以身作则，甘愿以最卑微的仆人的方式为门徒洗脚（13:2-12）。接着耶稣解释说，祂这样做是为了给他们树立谦卑舍己服侍的榜样（12-17 节）。这种谦卑的服侍在基督所说的“人为朋友舍命，人的爱心没有比这更大的了”（约翰福音 15:13）中得到了最充分的体现。短短几个小时后，耶稣就将这句充满力量的话语付诸实践，在十字架上舍命，为世人赎罪。因着耶稣为我们舍命的这份爱，我们能藉着耶稣以同样的爱去爱他人。
今日灵修 斯特拉迪瓦里小提琴、大提琴和吉他是世界上最珍贵的乐器之一。这些乐器制作于十七、十八世纪，稀有且价值连城。如此珍贵的物品理应得到最悉心的呵护。因此，当一把价值超过两千万美元的斯特拉迪瓦里大提琴在拍摄过程中从桌子上掉下来时，着实令人震惊！
正如斯特拉迪瓦里小提琴需要小心呵护一样，我们的人际关系也需要如此。我们应当爱人如己，因为基督已经向我们展现了祂的爱。在约翰福音13章34节，耶稣给了门徒一条需要认真遵守的命令：“我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱；我怎样爱你们，你们也要怎样彼此相爱。”基督为什么称之为新命令呢？因为它源于耶稣爱人的方式。这条爱的命令并非漫不经心或随意，而是充满诚意、珍贵且舍己的。这样的爱将引领门徒成为门徒舍己甚至可能为主献上生命。在基督离世后，这种彼此关爱的品质，将帮助他们在艰难险阻的世界中生存下来。耶稣告诉他们：“你们若彼此相爱，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。”（35节） 让我们效法耶稣那宝贵无价的爱尽心尽力地彼此相爱·。
反思与祷告 为何对某些人表达爱很困难？什么能帮助你以一种反映耶稣所启示的爱的方式来爱他们？
亲爱的耶稣，感谢您为我舍命的爱。请帮助我以同样的方式去彼此相爱。——马文·威廉姆斯