About This Song
As You Have Loved Us is a worship hymn built on a single sentence of Jesus — the new command He gave His disciples on the night before the cross: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34). The song walks through what that love actually looked like: the King of Heaven kneeling with towel and basin at unworthy feet, bearing insult and nails, and loving still from the cross. The chorus turns it into a prayer the church can sing together — teach us to love like that, serve like that, forgive like that — because "by this everyone will know that you are my disciples." In the church where the song was born, there is a saying: we get to serve. Not "we have to" — we get to. It is a privilege, not a burden. And to serve well, one needs to love God and love people. That is the heart of this hymn. A song of love. A life of service.
Devotional
"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" (John 13:34–35).
Jesus spoke these words moments after doing something shocking: the Teacher and Lord wrapped a towel around His waist, poured water into a basin, and washed His disciples' feet — including the feet of the man about to betray Him (John 13:1–17). Then He said, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."
The standard is not "love as you are loved back." It is "as I have loved you" — a love that stoops, serves, forgives, and pays the cost. Paul echoes it: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32).
And the stakes are high: this love is the world's evidence that we belong to Jesus. Not our arguments, not our platforms — our love.
Reflect: Who in your life is hardest to love right now? What would "towel and basin" love look like toward them this week? Ask the Holy Spirit to make Christ's heart yours — where there's anger, to sow forgiveness; where there's distance, to make you one.
Lyrics
[Verse 1] A new command our Saviour gave Before He faced the tree That we should love as He has loved With grace that sets us free Not only those who love us back Not only friend or kin But those who wound, and those who fail As Christ received us in [Chorus] Teach us to love as You have loved us Teach us to serve as You have served Give us Your heart for one another Give us the grace we don't deserve By this the world will see Your glory By this they'll know that we are Yours When we love as You have loved us O Christ, make us love more [Verse 2] You knelt beside unworthy feet With towel and basin low The King of Heaven bowed to serve The ones He loved below You bore the insult and the nails You gave Your life away And from the cross, with mercy still You loved us through the pain [Chorus] Teach us to love as You have loved us Teach us to serve as You have served Give us Your heart for one another Give us the grace we don't deserve By this the world will see Your glory By this they'll know that we are Yours When we love as You have loved us O Christ, make us love more [Bridge] Holy Spirit, fill Your people Make our hearts like Christ the Son Where there's anger, sow forgiveness Where there's distance, make us one Where there's pride, teach us to kneel Where there's pain, teach us to heal Where love costs us everything Let us follow still [Final Chorus] Teach us to love as You have loved us Teach us to serve as You have served Give us Your heart for one another Give us the grace we don't deserve By this the world will see Your glory By this they'll know that we are Yours When we love as You have loved us O Christ, make us love more [Outro] As You have loved us So let us love As You have served us So let us serve
Suggested chord chart
Suggested arrangement (not a transcription) — Key of D major, gentle hymn feel [Verse] D G D A new command our Saviour gave Bm G A Before He faced the tree D G D That we should love as He has loved G A D With grace that sets us free [Chorus] G A Teach us to love as You have loved us D Bm Teach us to serve as You have served G A Give us Your heart for one another D/F# G A Give us the grace we don't deserve G A By this the world will see Your glory D Bm By this they'll know that we are Yours G A When we love as You have loved us Bm A G (D) O Christ, make us love more [Bridge] Bm G Holy Spirit, fill Your people D A Make our hearts like Christ the Son Bm G Where there's anger, sow forgiveness D A Where there's distance, make us one [Outro] G A D — repeat softly to end Note: this chart is a suggested arrangement for worship teams, not a transcription of the recording. Transpose to suit your vocalists.
Credits: Music and lyrics: Sandy Rock · Singing & vocals: Michael S · Producer: Sandy R
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