I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:14–15). After performing that most menial of tasks, Jesus said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. Jesus demonstrated this unconditional love by washing His disciples’ feet, even those of the one who would betray Him. God’s love embraces flaws, weaknesses, and outright unworthiness. But for three years Jesus had shown them that love is not dependent upon the worthiness of the one being loved. In fact, there was nothing at all lovable about some of them, such as Matthew the tax collector (Matthew 9:9). The love He had poured into them they must now pour into each other if His message was to impact the world after He was gone. Though they didn’t understand it at the time, Jesus was telling them that He would not be with them much longer. When Jesus presented His followers with the new commandment the night before He was crucified, it fit with everything else He had said and done. And He taught about love in a way His hearers had never heard before: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:43–45). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly prefaced a teaching by saying, “You have heard it said. He demonstrated the compassion and tenderness that God has for mankind-but this was a God that looked nothing like how the Pharisees described Him. The love and patience with which He taught them began to change them. They came to the realization that this was God come to earth. But, in the three years that they followed this new Rabbi, they had experienced the love of God as no one ever had before. They were as rough around the edges, sinful, and selfish as anyone else. They were a mismatched crew of unlikely world-changers: some friends, some relatives, some strangers. The disciples had not started out loving each other. The new commandment to love one another is one we all need. Followers of Christ are recognized by their love for each other. ![]() For the first and only time in history, Jesus created a group whose identifying factor is love. Other groups may identify themselves by skin color, by uniform, by shared interests, by adherence to a code of behavior, by alma mater, etc. Jesus created a group identified by one thing: love. In giving the new commandment, Jesus laid the foundation for the formation of a group of people unique in human history. Jesus said the world would be drawn to His message when it saw His followers continuing to love each other. What would it take to impact the world as He had done? It wouldn’t be their speaking abilities, their miracle-working powers, or their courage. Jesus had taught the disciples many things during the three years they had been together, but this new commandment was the final one before He was crucified. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” After Judas was gone, Jesus spoke to the remaining eleven: “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. ![]() ![]() He had watched His traitorous disciple leave the dinner table to complete the evil deed. (It is described as an anthem in Cole's "Thomas Tallis and His Music in Victorian England".Jesus revealed the “new commandment” in John 13:34–35, while speaking to His disciples on the night He was betrayed by Judas. Note: Attributed to Boyce in one source, to Tallis in some others. Many copies are in C major, with manuscript-copy parts (as is not rare) scattered over various locations (though one or two locations have in this case a complete set of choral parts.) Not described as a motet or anthem, though in the Madrigal Society collection. ![]() Printed in Day's Certaine notes set forthe in foure and three partes (1560). 1560 in Certaine notes set forthe in foure and three partes
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