Na última ceia de Jesus com seus discípulos, após Judas sair de cena, o Mestre reconhece que chegou a “hora” e aproveita o pouco tempo que lhe resta para dar as últimas instruções aos seus. A “hora” de Jesus é a sua glorificação, quando transforma a traição na oportunidade de se entregar ao Pai e à humanidade. Antes disso, porém, deixa aos seus o novo mandamento do amor. A única exigência do Mestre é que seus seguidores se “amem uns aos outros”. O mandamento do amor já existe no Antigo Testamento, mas Jesus o transforma no “novo mandamento”. A novidade de Jesus está em dizer “assim como o Pai me amou e assim como eu os amei, amem-se uns aos outros”. Em outras palavras, deem a própria vida de forma gratuita. É justamente amando gratuitamente e, se preciso for, até as últimas consequências que demonstraremos ser discípulos de Jesus. A marca, portanto, dos cristãos é “amar como Jesus amou”. O Mestre não pede amor para si, mas em favor dos irmãos e irmãs.
Adapted by Flávio.
In Jesus ' Last Supper with his disciples, after Judas left the scene, the master recognizes that he has come to "time" and takes advantage of the little time he has left to give his last instructions. The "hour" of Jesus is his glorification, when he transforms treason into the opportunity to surrender himself to the father and to mankind. Before that, however, he leaves to his new commandment of love. The master's only requirement is that his followers "love one another." The commandment of love already exists in the Old Testament, but Jesus transforms it into the "New commandment." The novelty of Jesus is in saying "just as the father loved me and just as I loved them, love one another." In other words, give your life a free way. It is rightly loving for free and, if need be, until the last consequences we will show to be disciples of Jesus. The mark, therefore, of Christians is "to love as Jesus loved." The master does not ask for love for you, but in favor of the brothers and sisters.
In Jesus ' Last Supper with his disciples, after Judas left the scene, the master recognizes that he has come to "time" and takes advantage of the little time he has left to give his last instructions. The "hour" of Jesus is his glorification, when he transforms treason into the opportunity to surrender himself to the father and to mankind. Before that, however, he leaves to his new commandment of love. The master's only requirement is that his followers "love one another." The commandment of love already exists in the Old Testament, but Jesus transforms it into the "New commandment." The novelty of Jesus is in saying "just as the father loved me and just as I loved them, love one another." In other words, give your life a free way. It is rightly loving for free and, if need be, until the last consequences we will show to be disciples of Jesus. The mark, therefore, of Christians is "to love as Jesus loved." The master does not ask for love for you, but in favor of the brothers and sisters.