In that hour of momentous decision when Jesus knew that Judas was about to betray him, his concern was not for himself, but for the world which he had come to save, and from which he was so soon to be removed. His greatest task, on which tireless patience and devotion had been expended during these brief years of Messiahship, was the training of this little band of followers to carry on his work. For them, and for mankind, life could never be quite what it had been before his appearing, for with it had come something hitherto unknown. Upon their understanding and fidelity would now depend how rapid the regeneration was to be.
"A new commandment I give unto you," he said, "that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." And then, as though to bring home to them their corporate responsibility, to remind them that they were now no longer merely private individuals living only to themselves, but entrusted with a great public mission, he added, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
This in his eyes then was the supreme proof of discipleship. This was what would identify them as taught of him. Not preaching as he had preached; not healing as he had healed; not willingness to submit to privation, persecution, even crucifixion, in evidence of their loyalty and devotion would be enough to make them known as his disciples. Whether they had love one for another—this was to be the proof of their obedience to the new commandment; this the evidence to humanity that he who was about to lay down his life that he might take it again, had not done so in vain.
