A Love That Looks Like Jesus
08/19/2026
There are a lot of things people can know about us. They can know where we work, what church we attend, what we believe politically, what team we cheer for, even what we post online. But Jesus said there is one thing that should stand out above all the rest in the life of someone who follows Him: the way we love people.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
John 13:34 (ESV)
The words “just as I have loved you” change everything.
Jesus didn’t simply tell His disciples to love. Everybody has their own definition of love. Jesus gave them a standard: Me. Love people the way I have loved you.
And we need to remember when He said this.
Jesus had just washed His disciples’ feet. He got down on the floor and served men who should have been serving Him. And sitting at that table was Judas, the man who would betray Him. Jesus knew what Judas was about to do, and He still washed his feet.
Then Judas left, and Jesus began talking to the remaining disciples about what life would look like after He was gone.
That makes this command much harder than putting a heart emoji on it.
Jesus is talking about a love that serves when it would rather be served. A love that gives without keeping score. A love that doesn’t disappear the moment somebody disappoints us.
And notice Jesus says, “as I have loved you.”
Not, “as they deserve.”
Not, “as long as they treat you right.”
Not, “as long as they agree with you.”
Not even, “as long as they love you back.”
As I have loved you.
That is a completely different measuring stick.
We tend to measure our love by the behavior of the other person. If you’re kind to me, I’ll be kind to you. If you respect me, I’ll respect you. If you call me, I’ll call you. If you apologize, maybe I’ll forgive you.
Jesus takes the measuring stick out of their hands and puts Himself in its place.
That doesn’t mean love never confronts. Jesus confronted people. It doesn’t mean we never establish healthy boundaries. It doesn’t mean we pretend sin doesn’t matter or allow people to continually hurt us.
Biblical love isn’t weakness.
Sometimes love puts an arm around somebody. Sometimes love has a difficult conversation. Sometimes love forgives. Sometimes love says no. Sometimes love serves quietly when nobody notices.
But in every case, the question becomes:
What would it look like to love this person the way Jesus has loved me?
That’s a dangerous question if we actually intend to answer it.
Because Jesus has been patient with me when I haven’t deserved patience.
He has forgiven me more times than I could count.
He has stayed faithful when I’ve wandered.
He has served me when I had nothing to offer Him.
He went to a cross for me before I ever cleaned myself up.
So when I start making a list of all the reasons someone is difficult to love, eventually I have to remember that Jesus could have made a pretty long list about me too.
And He loved me anyway.
The very next verse takes this even further. Jesus says in John 13:35 (ESV)
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Think about that.
Jesus could have said people would recognize His followers by how much Scripture they knew. By how often they went to church. By how loudly they defended the truth.
Those things can matter.
But Jesus said there should be something visible about His people that the world cannot miss:
We love differently.
Anybody can love someone who loves them back. Jesus-shaped love shows up when loving costs us something.
Maybe the strongest testimony you give today won’t be something you say about Jesus.
Maybe it will be the way you treat somebody because of Jesus.
Action Steps
* Look for someone you can serve. Do something helpful today without needing recognition or repayment.
* Pay attention to the difficult person. Ask yourself, “What would loving them like Jesus look like today?” Then do that—not what your emotions want to do.
* Check your measuring stick. When you catch yourself deciding what someone “deserves,” remember how Jesus has loved you.
Challenge for the Day
Choose one person today and intentionally love them in a way that costs you something, your time, your pride, your convenience, or your forgiveness.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for loving me with a love I could never earn. Forgive me for the times I have made my love conditional on how other people treat me. Teach me to love like You—patiently, sacrificially, truthfully, and with grace. Put someone in front of me today who needs to experience Your love, and give me the courage to show it. Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
There are a lot of things people can know about us. They can know where we work, what church we attend, what we believe politically, what team we cheer for, even what we post online. But Jesus said there is one thing that should stand out above all the rest in the life of someone who follows Him: the way we love people.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
John 13:34 (ESV)
The words “just as I have loved you” change everything.
Jesus didn’t simply tell His disciples to love. Everybody has their own definition of love. Jesus gave them a standard: Me. Love people the way I have loved you.
And we need to remember when He said this.
Jesus had just washed His disciples’ feet. He got down on the floor and served men who should have been serving Him. And sitting at that table was Judas, the man who would betray Him. Jesus knew what Judas was about to do, and He still washed his feet.
Then Judas left, and Jesus began talking to the remaining disciples about what life would look like after He was gone.
That makes this command much harder than putting a heart emoji on it.
Jesus is talking about a love that serves when it would rather be served. A love that gives without keeping score. A love that doesn’t disappear the moment somebody disappoints us.
And notice Jesus says, “as I have loved you.”
Not, “as they deserve.”
Not, “as long as they treat you right.”
Not, “as long as they agree with you.”
Not even, “as long as they love you back.”
As I have loved you.
That is a completely different measuring stick.
We tend to measure our love by the behavior of the other person. If you’re kind to me, I’ll be kind to you. If you respect me, I’ll respect you. If you call me, I’ll call you. If you apologize, maybe I’ll forgive you.
Jesus takes the measuring stick out of their hands and puts Himself in its place.
That doesn’t mean love never confronts. Jesus confronted people. It doesn’t mean we never establish healthy boundaries. It doesn’t mean we pretend sin doesn’t matter or allow people to continually hurt us.
Biblical love isn’t weakness.
Sometimes love puts an arm around somebody. Sometimes love has a difficult conversation. Sometimes love forgives. Sometimes love says no. Sometimes love serves quietly when nobody notices.
But in every case, the question becomes:
What would it look like to love this person the way Jesus has loved me?
That’s a dangerous question if we actually intend to answer it.
Because Jesus has been patient with me when I haven’t deserved patience.
He has forgiven me more times than I could count.
He has stayed faithful when I’ve wandered.
He has served me when I had nothing to offer Him.
He went to a cross for me before I ever cleaned myself up.
So when I start making a list of all the reasons someone is difficult to love, eventually I have to remember that Jesus could have made a pretty long list about me too.
And He loved me anyway.
The very next verse takes this even further. Jesus says in John 13:35 (ESV)
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Think about that.
Jesus could have said people would recognize His followers by how much Scripture they knew. By how often they went to church. By how loudly they defended the truth.
Those things can matter.
But Jesus said there should be something visible about His people that the world cannot miss:
We love differently.
Anybody can love someone who loves them back. Jesus-shaped love shows up when loving costs us something.
Maybe the strongest testimony you give today won’t be something you say about Jesus.
Maybe it will be the way you treat somebody because of Jesus.
Action Steps
* Look for someone you can serve. Do something helpful today without needing recognition or repayment.
* Pay attention to the difficult person. Ask yourself, “What would loving them like Jesus look like today?” Then do that—not what your emotions want to do.
* Check your measuring stick. When you catch yourself deciding what someone “deserves,” remember how Jesus has loved you.
Challenge for the Day
Choose one person today and intentionally love them in a way that costs you something, your time, your pride, your convenience, or your forgiveness.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for loving me with a love I could never earn. Forgive me for the times I have made my love conditional on how other people treat me. Teach me to love like You—patiently, sacrificially, truthfully, and with grace. Put someone in front of me today who needs to experience Your love, and give me the courage to show it. Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
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