Just As I Have Loved You, is derived from the New Testament verse found in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (New International Version – Used With Permission)  Some Bible versions use the translation, “Just as I have loved you” in verse 34 – which is what I have used in my song – reminding us that just as Jesus has loved us – we are to love one another.

The reality of Christmas is that while TV portrays the perfect Christmas, the truth is that for every family that has a wonderful Christmas there are many who are left out of Christmas.  For more reasons than can be counted, individuals and families fall through the cracks during the holidays, and don’t experience a, “picture perfect storybook Christmas” filled with the holiday warmth of a loving family, long-time cherished friends and wonderful gift exchanges with those who are near and dear to them.

It is Jesus Christ who reminds us to do what we can to seek out those who would be alone or not participating in Christmas, so we can show them the love of Jesus at Christmas – just as He first loved us.  For Jesus is the meaning of the Christmas season, and He wants our focus to be on going out into the world to love one another, “So go out into the world, With the joy of Christmas Day, And spread the love of Christ, on your way…”

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I recorded my original song “Just As I Have Loved You” on Set 13 in 1997, and it’s an alternative Christmas song that doesn’t focus on all the traditional joys of the Christmas season. It focuses instead on the message Christ carries to us with His birth in Bethlehem, one of loving one another – especially those who don’t know the true meaning of Christmas or aren’t in a position to celebrate it in the traditional sense. “There are people, on Christmas Day, Who are lost, and alone…So go out into the world, With the joy of Christmas Day, And spread the love of Christ, on your way…” Enjoy! ♡ 🙂 Mark

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(Note: Emailed versions of these songs lose their chord alignment and formatting, so refer to the original post and/or the scanned lyric sheet as your guide!)

Just As I Have Loved You

“In The Name Of The Father” – Collected Works Volume XV, Copyright 1991, Mark D. Jones, All Rights Reserved

Verse One:

               G               Em

There are people, on Christmas Day

             F            C

Who are lost, and alone

        G             Em

Their lives, are empty

            F                 C

As they sit alone, at home

          G                    Em

We all love Christmas Day

           F               C

What a joy it is for us

      G              Em

For Christ was born

     F                   C

To wash our sins away

          Dm                C

But as we rejoice on Christmas Day

Dm                             C

Remember what Christ had to say

    G                                Em         F        C

“I command you that you love, one another

C        G                  Em                    F    C

Just as I have loved you” – love each other

    G                               Em          F        C

“I command you that you love, one another

C        G                 Em

Just as I have loved you”

         F                G

So go out into the world

             Am                   G

With the joy of Christmas Day

       F                         G                      C

And spread the love of Christ, on your way

Verse Two:

               G                Em

There are families, on Christmas Day

            F                                C

Without homes, or any place to stay

               G                      Em

There are people, that are hungry

       F                        C

And cold on Christmas Day

          G                    Em

We all love Christmas Day

           F               C

What a joy it is for us

      G              Em

For Christ was born

     F                  C

To wash our sins away

      Dm                        C

But remember those on Christmas Day

            Dm                         C

Without much to give thanks for that day

    G                Em         F          C

As Jesus loves us, go to them in love

C         G                    Em        F  C

Give to them a helping hand, in love

    G               Em          F          C

As Jesus loves us, go to them in love

C         G                    Em

Give to them a helping hand

         F                       G

Show them the love of Christ

              Am                      G

That you hold on Christmas Day

       F                         G                  C

And spread the love of Christ, every day

Verse Three:

      G              Em

The world, is a cold place

          F                     C

If you don’t, know the Lord

       G                    Em

Without His love, to guide your life

       F                      C

You find yourself, all alone

          G                    Em

We all love Christmas Day

           F               C

What a joy it is for us

     G              Em

For Christ was born

     F                   C

To wash our sins away

         Dm                             C

So on Christmas Day think of those out there

       Dm                C

Who sit alone without the love

    G                  Em               F               C

Of Christ in their lives, give to them your love

C         G                       Em           F  C

So that they will come to know, the love

    G                   Em              F               C

Of Christ in their lives, give to them your love

C         G                       Em

So that they will come to know

       F         G

The love of Christ

             Am                        G

That you have on Christmas Day

      F                     G               C       F     C

The world needs to share, your love, A-men