January 15, 2026
We want to reach the lost. We aim to evangelize all nations and peoples. We want (to quote our vision statement) “to see the world, especially the places in which we live, work, and worship, filled with disciples of Jesus Christ.”
But how will the world identify us as his disciples?
Surely, it will be through our exegetical skill and theological insight. Surely, it will be our ability to parse Greek verbs and quote the church fathers from memory. Right?
“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. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (13:34–35).
When I typed the words “Christian hate” into Google just now, the top result was a Reddit post titled “Why is there so much hate in Christianity?” When I scrolled down a little further, I found this question on Quora: “If Jesus Christ preached love, why do Christians show so much hate?”
The phrase “so much” really stands out to me in both questions. It’s not just that Christians are so widely known for hatred that people are questioning online how it could be so, but rather that Christians are known for “so much” hatred.
But Jesus commands us to love: love God, love your neighbor, and love one another.
That is how all people will know that we are his disciples. If we want to reach the world and save the lost, it starts with love.
And if you want to see what love looks like, it looks like kneeling to wash the feet of someone who will deny you and someone else who will betray you fatally.