Christ had bidden the first disciples love one another as He had loved them. Thus they were to bear testimony to the world that Christ was formed within, the hope of glory. "A new commandment I give unto you," He had said, "That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." John 13:34. At the time when these words were spoken, the disciples could not understand them; but after they had witnessed the sufferings of Christ, after His crucifixion and resurrection, and ascension to heaven, and after the Holy Spirit had rested on them at Pentecost, they had a clearer conception of the love of God and of the nature of that love which they must have for one another. Then John could say to his fellow disciples:

Kristus havde befalet sine første disciple at elske hverandre, ligesom han havde elsket dem. Således skulle de overfor verden være vidnesbyrd om, at Kristus, herlighedens håb, levede i dem. "En ny befaling giver jeg jer," havde han sagt, "at I skal elske hverandre." Joh. 13,34. På det tidspunkt, hvor disse ord blev sagt, kunne disciplene ikke forstå dem; men efter at de havde været vidner til Kristi lidelser, efter hans korsfæstelse og opstandelse og optagelse til Himmelen og efter at Helligånden havde hvilet over dem på pinsedag, fik de en klarere opfattelse af Guds kærlighed og af beskaffenheden af den kærlighed, de burde have til hinanden. Så kunne Johannes sige til sine meddisciple: