We think of this command of Jesus to love one another, I think, as going out and loving everyone, loving the whole world, loving the unlovely. And we have these big sermons about loving.

But Jesus was sitting in a room with 11 guys around a table. They all knew each other. They were annoyed by each other.

We know that. At almost this same time, James and John had made a request of Jesus that made all the rest upset.

And we know that they were human beings. Humans who have all the annoying differences that humans have. We breathe differently. We chew differently. We learn differently. We understand differently. And when we get together, when we have to work together, when we have to live together, we get on each other’s nerves.

And Jesus looks right at them, looks into each of their faces, and says, “love one another.” Maybe he gestures around the circle.

It’s actually a pretty profound and simple thought. If these 11 people who had been the closest with Jesus, who represented different levels of society, different parts of the country, different levels of education—if these 11 people actually loved each other BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS, it would be an amazing evidence that Jesus changes people.

Because there wasn’t much else that would keep them together.

Most fled.

The night of the resurrection, one was missing.

Some of them went fishing, but not all of them.

On the mount of the ascension, some of them still had some questions.

They needed help. About 8 weeks after this conversation, they were gathered in a room and the Holy Spirit arrived, to teach them and remind them of everything Jesus said. To give them power and courage and understanding. Including understanding of each other and of what they had actually learned from Jesus.