In John 13:34 Jesus announces a “new commandment” to love others as He has modeled. Human hearts over the centuries had pared down the scope of love commanded in Leviticus 19:18, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus loved the unlovable when he washed the feet of his betrayer. Jesus loved when he had every excuse to say “not now, I’m going to suffer and die in a few hours.”
The Gospel enables us follow his new commandment “that you love one another: just as I have loved you.”