<p>15:12 <em>This is my commandment: That you love one another, even as I have loved you</em>- As noted on :10, this singular commandment is spoken of in the Hebraic plural of majesty as His &quot;commandments&quot;, plural. This in one 'word' is the essence of His message, His<em> logos</em> to men. We are to love each in on ongoing way, as Christ loved us in His death in that once-off act (Jn. 15:12,17). The combination of the present and aorist tenses of <em>agapan</em> &lsquo;to love&rsquo; in these verses proves the point. Thus our obedience <em>to</em> Christ in loving each other is exemplified by the obedience <em>of</em> Christ (:10). Quite simply, something done 2000 years ago really does affect us <em>now</em>. There is a powerful link across the centuries, from the darkness of the cross to the lives we live today in this century. &ldquo;By his knowledge&quot;, by knowing Christ as He was there, we are made righteous (Is. 53:11). As Israel stood before Moses, they promised: &ldquo;All the words which the Lord has spoken will we do&quot;. When Moses then sprinkled the blood of the covenant upon them- and this incident is quoted in Hebrews as prophetic of the Lord&rsquo;s blood- they said the same but more strongly: &ldquo;All the words which the Lord hath spoken will we do <em>and be obedient</em>&quot; (Ex. 24:3,7). It was as if their connection with the blood inspired obedience. Likewise the communication of God&rsquo;s requirements was made from over the blood sprinkled mercy seat (Ex. 25:22)- another foretaste of the blood of Christ. Quite simply, we can&rsquo;t face the cross of Christ and not feel impelled towards obedience to that which God asks of us, which is to love as the Lord loved us. For the next verse will define love as the love of the cross.</p>