“I [Yeshua/Jesus] give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you must love one another.” John 13:34, TLV

Follow the Leader.   Love one another. Just as Jesus loved us, we are to love others. If we are to love as Yeshua loved us, there’s an important question. Who is Yeshua? He is many amazing things. He is the Son of God. He is our salvation — it’s in His Name. He is the Word made flesh.

Let’s pause here.

The Word made flesh (John 1:14). Whose Word? God His Father, of course. But specifically which Words?

Those Words contained in the Bible written before the book of Matthew. Before any of the Gospels, Epistles, and Revelation. Those words are what many call the “Old Testament”—the Law (Torah), Writings, and Prophets (TANAKH).

The Ancient of Days

The Ancient of Days (Daniel 7) was formed into flesh, for us. That still blows my mind. Then He embodied the Word, His Father’s Word for us, by living it out. Demonstrating how it is done.

The promises, laws, history, miracles, insights, inspiration, wisdom, everything. Jesus showed us how to live the Word.

For those at that time, it would have been so new because the means of atonement for their sins was about to change. There would come a day when there would no longer be a Temple with blood sacrifices. He would be our blood sacrifice — our eternal atonement (Hebrews 2:17). He wasn’t doing away with them—He was fulfilling them.

What did this mean for the Jewish people? Yeshua wanted theirs and our hearts to be committed to His Father. Yeshua showed us what that commitment looked like.

Follow the loving steps of our Leader

So, did Jesus do away with the Law? Of course not (Romans 3:31). He fulfilled what we could not so that when we tried — and failed — our atonement was secure (Matthew 5:17).

Our obedience now springs from love and gratitude (Jeremiah 31:32). And this love is evidence to the world that Yeshua is who He said He is (John 13:35).

Our love for one another will be a compelling reason for others hungry for love—the only love that will fulfill them. God’s love. Our love for those who don’t know Him — and not mere tolerance, but His love — will be like salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), a sweet fragrance of Yeshua (2 Corinthians 2:14). Our Yeshua-like love will draw them to Him and His Father.

Is it easy? Golly, no. But really, it is the least we can do after all He has done for us. Right?