The Eleventh Commandment
Thoughts from our Bishop

Just when you thought it was safe to attend that weekly Bible study, armed with a generous dose of confidence, would it come as a surprise if I told you there are eleven Commandments and not ten? Furthermore I can assure you that Moses didn’t drop one of God’s instructions on his way down from the mountain!

Before you call me insane or accuse the Biblical historians of inaccuracy, you probably need to turn to John 13 to discover that the eleventh commandment was given to us by Jesus himself!

In what has to be one of the most moving scenes to take place in the Gospels, Jesus is gathered for the last time with his disciples. The very first line of chapter 13 begins by saying, “Jesus knew that his hour had come.” The scripture goes on to say that they ate the meal together, and following the supper, Jesus laid aside his garments and took a towel and washed their feet. Everything that took place in that room was done in the knowledge that in just a few hours he would be with them no longer. In the midst of informing them that someone would betray him and Peter would deny him, Jesus said to them: “A new commandment I give you that you love one another as I have loved you that you also love one another.” (John 13:34)

Can you imagine that? In what has to be the most heartbreaking moment of his life, Jesus issues a commandment to love one another. On the surface his actions and words seem unbelievable, a difficult standard so great it is beyond our reach. But if we belong to him and he abides in us, it must be that way.

What Jesus speaks of is an unconditional love that is not measured out or restricted because of color, race, station, or anything else. It is a love that knows no boundaries, no limits, and no circumstances. It is the kind of love that Jesus took to the cross as he looked upon those who crucified him and said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
When I think about the world in which we live, one of the things we need to do a better job of is learning how to love one another. In difficult times we seem to wallow in the ditch of hatred and separation. We want to “blame” other people for our own faults and failures, and we do our best to find ways to belittle and accuse. If we are truly followers of this man called Jesus, we would do our best to go beyond the Ten Commandments given to us by God, and embrace the one given to us by God’s Son.
Today, love is in need of love, and you are the only way that can make it happen.

Bishop Hayes