Identifying Marks of A Christian

John 13:34-35

We Are Identified by Our Love

Text: 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.”

Introduction

Love is one of the most used words in our culture today. We hear it in songs, see it in movies, and talk about it in relationships. But what does love really mean? Jesus, in His final moments with His disciples, gave them a clear command—love one another. This was not just a suggestion or an option, but a command that would define their identity as His followers. I believe we have some former military in the audience who might know about following commands

Every group in the world has an identifying mark—something that sets them apart. Police officers wear uniforms, doctors wear scrubs, and sports teams wear jerseys. We even have on our bodies identifying marks that we call birth marks which hs been used in kidnappings and abductions of children and adults. Even Bomb makers have a signature. But what is the identifying mark of a Christian? Jesus made it clear: love.

In John 13, Jesus spent His last moments with His disciples before going to the cross. He didn’t tell them that they would be known by their miracles, knowledge, or even their preaching. Instead, He said they would be known by your love. Therefore Jesus is stating clearly the true Identity of one of His disciple is Love. And that’s what the world should identify us.

Jesus called this a new commandment. But hadn’t God already commanded His people to love? Yes! The Old Testament taught to love God and our neighbor (Leviticus 19:18).

And they tried Joseph (Genesis 37-50) Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and falsely accused, yet he forgave them and provided for them during a famine. His mercy and forgiveness reflect Jesus love and willingness to forgive even those who wronged Him.

2. Moses (Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) Moses interceded on behalf of the nation Israel multiple times, even when they rebelled against God.

3. Ruth’s loyalty and selflessness in staying with Naomi, even when it meant hardship, reflect the kind of love Jesus showed in His commitment to humanity.

4. David (1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, Psalms) David, despite being a warrior, showed deep compassion. He spared King Saul’s life multiple times, even when Saul was trying to kill him (1 Samuel 24, 26).

5. Hosea’s love for his unfaithful wife, Gomer, symbolizes God’s unwavering love for His people. His willingness to redeem her despite her betrayal is a powerful picture of Jesus’ love for sinners.

Yes, several people in the Old Testament demonstrated love in ways that foreshadowed Jesus love, though none perfectly embodied it as He did. Each of these figures showed glimpses of Christ love through forgiveness, sacrifice, and mercy, but Jesus love surpasses all, as He gave His life for the salvation of the world.

So what made this command new? Jesus raised the bar: “As I have loved you.” Love is an action and his love went past his own family and sel preservation. His love was deeper, more sacrificial, and completely unconditional. And the disciples witnessed Jesus’ New love firsthand—healing the sick, forgiving sinners, and serving the outcasts. Now, they were called to love in the same manner.

So let’s take a look at this identity through the eyes of John. Lets go back to the beginning of this chapter and walk through this new commandment.

verse one it was just before the Passover festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the father, having loved his own who in the world he loved them to the end.

I sometimes imagine John leaning back from writing his eyewitness account of Jesus, some could even say it was his obituary but John stretches from hours of writing he stops, putting the pin down and remembers his friend Jesus. and it’s not hard to imagine him possibly wiping a tear from his eye. Have you ever had a moment where you are looking through some old photos, reading some letters or even a google memory that pops up on your phone of that person or event in your life and it brings backs so many emotions. some good and some bad. Emotions that can overwhelm you to the point of tears. I say that to let you feel the pen marks of John, the emotion as he recalls those memories with Jesus. You can hear the emotion in that sentence. He loved them to the end you see John was a recipient of that love. He knew what it felt like personally to be loved by Jesus. Jesus wasn’t a subject to him or at theological formula. Jesus was his friend. Do you think John knew the hymn what a friend we have in Jesus?

let’s look at Verse 2- The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas the son of Simon the son of Icasriot to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the father had put all things under his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, so He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist after that, he poured water into a basin and begin to wash his disciples feet drying them with the towel. It was wrapped around him.

Here they are celebrating the Passover. Let’s put ourselves there. Everyone’s laughing eating, probably getting sleepy from the combination of a long day of ministry, all the food they’re eating and the wine that flows freely at every Passover celebration meal. It doesn’t help the disciples are laying on their sides, propped up on their elbows make it impossible for one person even to lean back on another around the large circular table, their feet pointing outward as the evening winds on an argument breaks out about those in their group who are the greatest. Each disciple makes his point. I cast out way more demons than you did. Yeah, but we hit more villages when Jesus sent us out with the other 60 disciples and at that moment, one of the disciples is startled by someone grabbing his feet he turns around is he feels the water and feels the cloth and sees that Jesus is actually washing his feet That’s a servant job. Then he notices Jesus is wearing a towel like a servant. He stripped off everything else when he gets to Peter, it’s too much as Jesus rounds the table washing each feet and comes near to Peter

Peter Asked in verse 6 Lord, are you gonna wash my feet? Jesus smiles of Peter, but looks intently at him. You don’t realize now what I’m doing but later you will understand

My daddy use to say just before he was about to inflict pain on my behind.

Peter pulls his feet up towards his chest, trying to put them out of reach of Jesus no, you shall never wash my feet Jesus unless I wash your feet. You will have no part with me. Meaning I have to show you or you won’t really understand later, but you real because of our relationship. That what love is relational. In society people will do things because of relationships or people in society will only speak to people in charge. Someone they believe can make change happen.

Peter quickly spins around on the bed, putting his feet near the food in his head or his feet spin then Lord not just my feet but my hands of my head as well and this draws a ton of laughter from around the table of 12.

Verse 10.Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him. That is why He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Its painful to hear this from John as I know his heart is breaking for his friend as he writes John understands, he writes to us, that Jesus was prompted to wash feet, because he knew it was time to die or as verse one had said Jesus knew his time had come this will be his final act with all of them present, which makes it even more powerful because Jesus knew that Judas was about to betray him and washed his feet anyway. John said earlier he loved his own until the end, but Judas wouldn’t be the only one who screwed up Peter would do it too, making Jesus‘s response you don’t understand what I’m doing now but you will all the more powerful they were about to screw up. They were about to let Him down. We all screw up. We all get dirt on our feet, but we’ve also been made completely clean by Jesus, but it seems Jesus has to keep wiping us down before the night‘s done. He’s gonna have to wipe quite a bit of filth off the feet of Peter and the rest of the disciples, but Jesus putting his clothes back on takes his seat at the table and delivers a lesson they will not soon forget.

Verse 12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master,b nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

I have set you an example that you should do as I’ve done for you so Jesus the greatest bends down and washes the filth off my feet and says I should do that for others, but I’m the biggest screwup. I know this should cause all of us to sit back into wondering awe if Jesus can wash my feet. Then why should it be so hard to wash the feet of others?

The disciples are probably wondering is Jesus saying, Should I literally wash peoples feet, or is this a spiritual metaphoric thing? I mean is he being literal and is this how we settle the argument about who’s the greatest? He said we wouldn’t understand this right away. Perhaps they didn’t understand yet because they hadn’t gotten filthy before the night is over. They’re gonna have to wash off quite a bit of muck off each other‘s feet. So Jesus speaks into what dirty deeds are about to be done dirt cheap.

Verse 18, He first speaks about the one who’s unclean first Verse 18 “I’m not referring to all of you. I know those I have chosen, but this is to fulfill the passage of scripture you who shared my bread is turned against me. 19) I’m telling you now before it happens so when it does happen, you will believe that I am who I am. After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, perplexed as to which of them He meant. 23 One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.d 24 So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus which one He was talking about.

It’s interesting here that Jon introduces himself for the first time as the one who Jesus loves perhaps remembering the coming events of that night, remembering the filthy personally pick up on his feet you needed to remember that, and we all need to remember that when we screw up. So John lying on his side, propped on his elbow leans towards the table as Jesus looks over his shoulder

Verse 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked, “Lord, who is it?”26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.” Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.

As soon as Judas took the bread Satan entered him. Jesus had been dipping the bread all night passing it around he led the Passover remembrance of how God had set him free, but at that moment, Jesus handed the bread to Judas and nobody caught that he was being specific, but Satan did.

Only Judas and Jesus know what’s about to happen and Judas guiltily looks over at Jesus. Jesus says what you’re about to do, do it quickly. They think he’s going to run an errand and get more food or wine or do some good deed for the poor as Judas disappears into the night, Jesus looks at the remaining 11 and despite having his heartbroken by someone he’d love to the end he says in

Verse 34 A new command I give you to love one another as I’ve loved you so you must love one another 35) by this everyone will know you are my disciples if you love one another

36) Simon Peter asked him Lord where are you going? Jesus replied where I’m going. You cannot follow now but you will follow later. Peter asked Lord why can’t I follow you now? I’ll lay down my life for you then Jesus answered. Will you really lay down your life for me? very truly I tell you for the rooster crows you will disown me three times

You have to love Peter. He’s like all of us. He wants to follow Jesus to the end, even die for him he’s a loyal friend, but he’s still a screwup just like you and me. Will you really lay down your life for me? Jesus knows that Judas isn’t the only one who will cause him pain that night. Peter will let him down too, in fact, all of them at that table will before the night out and so do we. But with laser precision, Jesus tells him he’s gonna disown him three times. Jesus knows our filth. He knows us better than we know ourselves, but look at how he treats Peter. He loves him. I hear John’s words coming back to a disciple whom Jesus loved. It should remind us when we let him down the most, that He loves us. because he’s not surprised that’s why he told him earlier. You’re all clean. We’ll get some dirt on us as we journey through life, but there’s one thing you can bank on as we continue to journey with Jesus he will love us until the end. Do we know how to love like that? Does our identity resemble the same type of love. I’m glad we look at Jesus for our love language.

John and the disciples fell in love with Jesus for several profound reasons, related both to His divine nature and His human character.

1. **His Compassion and Love**: Jesus demonstrated immense compassion and unconditional love. He reached out to marginalized individuals in society—lepers, tax collectors, sinners, and the poor. His acts of kindness and mercy exemplified a love that was transformative and irresistible.

2. **His Teachings**: Jesus taught with authority and wisdom that surpassed any religious leader of His time.

3. **His Miracles**: The disciples witnessed numerous miracles that demonstrated His divine power and authority over nature, disease, and even death. These signs affirmed His divine identity and mission, deepening their belief in Him as the Messiah.

4. **His Personal Relationship with Them**: Jesus personally called each of His disciples, inviting them into a close relationship and offering them true friendship. He invested in their lives, teaching, guiding, and correcting them with patience and love.

5. **His Sacrifice**: Ultimately, Jesus’ willingness to sacrifice His life for the redemption of humankind was the greatest act of love. Through His death and resurrection, the disciples understood the depth of His love and the power of God’s plan for salvation, which solidified their devotion and love for Him.

6. **His Example of Servant Leadership**: Jesus exemplified humility and servant leadership, washing the feet of His disciples and teaching them the importance of serving others above themselves.

The disciples’ journey with Jesus was transformative, and His unique combination of divine attributes and deep, personal love made Him someone they could not help but love in return. Do we have a love that is transformative and reflects the identity of Jesus? In order to make his love real in us we must make it personal. church imagine that love one who is no longer here who you loved deeply why because its personal Jesus made this personal and that how he can love us even until the end. Tell the story ofyour nephew in the last few hours of his passing. travel over 2 hours to get some remedy that was expensive to only return and he is gone.

Conclusion

Church, we are not identified by a cross we wear, a church we attend, or a title we hold. We are identified by our love. Jesus calls us to love as He loved—selflessly, sacrificially, and unconditionally. always even until the end. When we love like Jesus, the world will see that we are truly His disciples. Let’s make a commitment today to be known by our love!