Christ had the power, or authority from God to give new commandments, Matthew 28:18. In John 13:34, Christ gave the apostles a new commandment. "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." This love is "agape" love, love that seeks others' good above your own. This of course is the type of love that God has for mankind. God demonstrated this love by sending His only Son to die on the cross. This is so man can have forgiveness of sins by obedience to God's revealed will in the New Testament. Christ gave this commandment before His death, signifying the new type of love His followers should have for all people.
Christ goes on in John 13:35, to say, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Here is the way to find His true followers, if they have this type of love. Not the huggy, kissy type of love, but love that puts others' needs before their own. This is demonstrated in all types of ways, by checking on each other to make sure everyone has a ride to worship, to caring for each other during sickness.
This type of love also makes Christ's followers try to teach the gospel to everyone, some times in their own neighborhoods, or half-way around the world. Yet the reason is concern for others souls, because they remember that they too were in the world without hope until some disciple of Christ, motivated by this type of love, brought the pure gospel of Christ to them and taught them what God wanted. Peter pointed out that God wants all people to obey Him and accept His salvation in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." God wants His followers to be followers because they want to not became they are forced into following Him. God has demonstrated the love He has for us through the sacrifice of His Son, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "
This congregation demonstrates this type of love! We are a caring, loving congregation and this has been noticed both here in Marshfield and also in Peru. Many heart-felt greetings and expressions of thanks were extended to this congregation during our stay in Lima. May we always follow God's commandments and be pleasing in His sight!