What does it mean to love like Jesus?

from the old testament

• The Old Testament lays the foundation for loving like Jesus by revealing God's character and calling His people to reflect that love. Since Jesus is God in the flesh (see John 1:1,14), His love is the same steadfast, covenantal love that God showed throughout the Old Testament.
• God describes Himself as "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness" (Exodus 34:6), and He commands His people to love others with that same kind of enduring love (Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 10:18–19). The call to love the foreigner, care for the poor, and show mercy reflects the very heart of God.

from the new testament

• Jesus warned that just because we say we know of God, doesn't mean we have a personal relationship with Him: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). Being a true believer involves obedience to God. If we want to love like Jesus, we should obey His commands.
• Jesus was compassionate toward others (Matthew 9:36; 14:14). Showing kindness in our words and actions to those who are hurting is a way we can love like Jesus.
• Love does not mean blind acceptance of whatever someone does. Jesus was direct with those who were living in sin or deception. He called the Pharisees "hypocrites!" and "blind guides!" (Matthew 23:13, 16). Likewise, we should not avoid calling out sin in the name of love.
• Generosity is a practical way we can love like Jesus. We should not grasp our resources tightly but be willing to share them with others, even when it inconveniences us. Everything we have is from God, but it’s up to us how we will steward the resources He has given us (Matthew 25:14–30).
• In large part, it was Jesus' love for people that drew them to Him (Mark 10:1). Likewise, our Christ-centered love may be the main factor that draws people to Christ today.
• It's not difficult to love people who are just like us—even nonbelievers do that. However, Jesus made it clear that we are to love those who are not like us, including our enemies (Luke 6:32–36).
• When Jesus talked with a rich young ruler, He pointed out that even though the man had good intentions, he loved his money more than he loved Jesus. He was not truly surrendered (Luke 18:18–25). What we can gather from this interaction is that we must not love riches or the comfort it brings more than Jesus. Even if it means sacrificing material possessions, we should obey Christ, loving Him above anything else.
• Jesus loved with agape love (sacrificial love), and we should do the same: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son" (John 3:16).
• In John 15:13, Jesus says that there is no greater love than laying down one's life for his friends. Although we may not be asked to sacrifice our life for someone else, we should be prepared to make many sacrifices for others as we pursue Christ-centered love.
• Another way to extend Jesus’ love is to "rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). Time and time again Jesus was merciful and empathetic toward those who were broken. For those in our life who are needing comfort and compassion, we should take after the example of Jesus.
• Instead of doing what the world does by returning evil for evil, we are called to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17–21).
• Loving people like Jesus means we have to speak the truth to them in love (Ephesians 4:15–16).
• Our natural inclination when we are hurt by someone else is to nurse the wound or seek revenge. This causes bitterness to spring up in our hearts, leaving no room for love. In contrast to what the world does, we should love like Jesus by forgiving others as Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32).
• We can love like Jesus by choosing to do what benefits others rather than what benefits us (Philippians 2:1–11).
• Jesus loved without favoritism or discrimination, and we should do the same. He loved friends and enemies alike, regardless of peoples’ economic status, cultural background, or ethnicity. We are commanded to do the same: "If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors" (James 2:8–9).

implications for today

We are to love others as Jesus has loved us, because it is in our love for others that they see Jesus in us (John 13:34–35). During His earthly ministry, Jesus proactively crossed cultural boundaries or others’ expectations to extend love to everyone—even His enemies or those who would betray Him—and we should do the same (John 4; John 13:4–5; Matthew 27:20–22). It is in loving others like Jesus did that we continue to become more like Him. Jesus loved us enough to take on human flesh, live a sinless life, die on the cross, and rise back to life victorious over sin and death so that all who put their faith in Him would become children of God and live with Him forever (John 1:12; 3:16–18; Ephesians 2:8–10). His love surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:14–21; Romans 8:31–39). May the Holy Spirit produce that kind of love in us (Galatians 5:22–23) so that we can love like Jesus, and may many more come to know and rest in His astounding love.