Scripture: John 13:31-38 (ESV)
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.”
What is one of your defining characteristics? If you had to pick three words that speak to your identity, what would they be? For me it is probably husband, father, and games. Some people are known for their generosity, their kindness, their sense of humour. Others by their family connections, hobbies, or sporting achievements. Most people have something other people associate them with and this ends up being a defining characteristic for them. In our passage today Jesus gives his disciples a new characteristic they need to be defined by: Love.
Now yesterday we saw how Judas betrayed Jesus, and now that Judas has left, the story in the book of John shifts to glorification. Jesus will be glorified as he suffers and dies for his enemies, and God the Father will be glorified as Jesus submits to the father’s will. Jesus is about to start walking down this path, but he has some final words and final teachings to give his disciples. And he starts out by telling them that he is giving them a new commandment. They are to love one another as he has loved them.
In many ways this commandment isn’t new. If you read the Ten Commandments or spend time with the sacrificial and legal system of Israel, it is obvious that most of the laws have love as their basis. The Ten Commandments teach us how to love God and love our neighbour in practical ways. Which makes us wonder then, why Jesus says he gives his disciples “a new commandment”.
The answer is that this new commandment to love one another is based on him. They are to love one another as he has loved them. Therefore this kind of love is not just out of obligation or a rigid sticking to the law. Rather it is humble and sacrificial. It is a kind of love that stoops down to wash dirty feet. It is a kind of love that gives without expecting in return. It is a kind of love that lays down life for friends. And importantly this kind of love is evangelistic too. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Interestingly, Jesus says this to his disciples of their love for each other. Often we read this and think about loving the outsider, the poor and the outcast. But this passage is about love for other Christians. In a world which often tells us that we should be characterised by success, power, wealth or knowledge, Jesus says the one thing that should define us is love. Being generous or kind or having a good sense of humous is great, but it is showing each other the deep sacrificial love Jesus showed us that marks us as a disciple. Sacrificial love for each other is how people will know we belong to him.
So then, how much do you really sacrificially love those in your church?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me with a perfect, sacrificial love. Help me to love my brothers and sisters as you have loved me, so that others may see you in me. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge:
Today, show love to someone in the church in a tangible way. Call or message someone you don’t often associate with and tell them how much they mean to you and the church. Then watch and see what happens.
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