Can we not lay down our life for the love of Christ? It’s a simple, but in some ways profound question. Not to minimalise the love one can have for a people, a country, but how much more then should the love of, for, and from Christ shape our lives, and our willingness to lay them down?

This is the question set before us in John’s recollection of Jesus’ continued farewell to His disciples. Jesus gives them, and us, a new commandment; love. But not the costless, feelings inspired, wavering “love” of postmodernity and movies. But a love that makes us evaluate and reevaluate how we engage one another, and if we can lay down our lives for one another.