40 Jesus replied, "Peter, how can you say that you love me when you will surely deny that you even know me? I command you to love one another. To love one another is not to think of oneself. Love as I have loved you."
41 Peter began to weep and fell to his knees in sorrow. "Lord!", Peter cried out. "You have loved me as I am. You have loved all of us, even though we have done nothing to deserve your love! How can I love that way? What if no one loves me the way you have loved me?"
42 Jesus placed his hand on Peter's shoulder. Peter looked up to see Jesus' eyes looking on him with love and compassion. "Peter, love one another.", Jesus said. "Love one another", he repeated. "As I have loved you, so you must love one another. This is what I command you to do."
43 "But what about me, Lord?", Peter said while weeping. "Who will love me? What if no one returns my love?"
44 Jesus called the other disciples and they gathered around him. He looked at them with compassion, knowing that they did not understand what he meant when he said, "Love one another." 45 "Do you not understand what I have commanded you to do? Do you love one another? Or do you only hope to receive love? Do you only hope to be loved as I have loved you? I command you. Love one another."
45 "Loving one another has nothing to do with you and the self.", "Jesus continued. "The self must be denied. You are not commanded to be loved. You are commanded to love. In loving one another, the cycle of love is made complete. If each of you loves one another, as I have loved you, you will indeed be loved as I have loved you. In this way, love is made complete. Live your lives in love, for in loving completely, you too will be loved."
46 The disciples looked at Jesus, finally understanding what he was commanding them to do. "It is not that we loved you, Lord. It is that you first loved us. We understand what you mean when you say, "Love one another. May we love each other as you have loved us."
47 Jesus knew what was in their hearts, for he knew all men. He knew that they understood his command, but he also knew that it would prove to be very difficult for them. He knew that this command to love one another, would be difficult for generations to come.
