John 13:31-38

I. Introduction

a. Scripture:

We’ll finish up w/ Chapter 13 today. 21 Chapters total in John.

And as always, I’m going to ask you to stand with me, if you are able, as we read from God’s Holy, Perfect, Sufficient and inerrant Word.

<Pray>

Thank you, and you may be seated.

II. Contextualization

a. Feast of the Passover - In the upper room with the Disciples

b. He is there for the Last Supper with them - Just washed their feet

c. He has just predicted His betrayal...”Lord is it I???” All confused - Identified the betrayer with dipped morsel of bread…and it was Judas… - really this was a final a warning to Judas…Jesus washed His feet, shared the Word with Him and warned Him…Judas had time to change his mind...

Gives the betrayer permission:

John 13:27 NASB95

After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”

d. Jesus is still there in the upper room…reclining and relaxing w/disciples…will spend a great deal of time there with them over the next couple of chapters, in order to teach them....this is a special time....it is their very last meal together in this life....and that’s where we left off last time.

III. Major Points

1. God Glories in Tragedy

2. Live in Love

3. We Must Forgive Like Jesus

IV. Point #1: God Glories in Tragedy

John 13:31-32

Explanation

Judas had just left the room: NOW Jesus could speak of His glory without an evil heart there.

Roman Execution = awful....tragedy…but God will USE that for His own Glory.

The Grave Jesus will be put into = sad…tragedy....but God will USE the grave to show Jesus WAS dead, but is now alive and will show His glory.

Jesus, in this moment: directing the Disciples eyes TO the coming cross…He wants them to know that it will only APPEAR to be a tragedy, but it will be used for Glory.

Illustration

In the cross of Christ I glory,   Tow’ring o’er the wrecks of time; All the light of sacred story   Gathers round its head sublime.

Application

Church hear me this morning: Tragedies come in this life all the time, but it is in THOSE moments that God is MOST glorified, amen?

A giant named Goliath is going to fight an average-sized young man named David…this is supposed to be a tragedy....instead GOD takes that IMPOSSIBLE situation and shows everybody just how powerful HE is…God gets the glory, amen?

A little 5 year old boy named Silas Edenfield from Vidalia, Georgia was attacked by an aggressive form of cancer about 5 years ago....the cancer was slowly taking his little life away....but during that time He talked to everybody who would listen including WTOC news in Savannah about how he was excited to stop hurting and one day have a new body....a tragedy to lose that little boy....but God got glory....and I promise you, that little boy has a new body today.

A PERFECT man named Jesus was beaten worse than an animal by drunken soldiers....a true King mocked and spat upon....a mocking crown of thorns placed upon his head…He drug His own cross one mile down the Via De la rosa to the top of a hill called calvary....He was NAILED to that cross....and died…a tragedy....BUT God got the Glory, amen?

When you face tragedies in YOUR life church, remember that in God’s upside down logic, it is through tragedies that God always shines....why? Because it is in DARKNESS that light always shines the brightest, amen?

God GLORIES in tragedy…and it drives the Devil crazy.

V. Point #2: Live in Love

John 13:33-35

Explanation

Jesus warns them that He only has a short time left (vs. 33) - they did not understand this....even up until the very end they just didn’t get it. - He is about to go to Heaven....they are going to have to continue on without Him.

Jesus says I have a NEW commandment for you: Since I’m going to be gone....this is how you can BEST serve me:

John 13:34 NASB95

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

My Disciples, you want to know how to keep me in your hearts? Love eachother.

WHY? Look at verse 35:

John 13:35 NASB95

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What is the DISTINCTIVE characteristic of a Disciple of Jesus Christ? Loving one another.

Illustration

The old hymn says:

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord And we pray that all unity may one day be restored And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love They will know we are Christians by our love

Several years ago I was leading the music at my home church, Cool Spring Baptist over in Aline....a dear lady, our Clerk, a woman named Mrs. Madge Bird was fighting lung cancer…and one day during prayer request time she asked for prayer....because she was scared....and the pastor said he would pray for her....but then moved on....and it bothered me....this dear woman who had served our church for decades as our clerk was terrified…and the best we could do was say I’ll pray for you? No....I wasn’t having it....after church that day before the preacher dismissed I asked if we could come together and lay hands on her and pray....and we did…and she was so grateful. She told me how much better she felt after church....

But see that wasn’t the end of the story.....the next Sunday I wasn’t at church there because I had been asked to preach at another church....My mama called me after church and said “I sure wish you’d have been here at church...” I said “why?” She said “cousin Larry got saved today?”....You have to understand....cousin Larry is 100% Williams…I’m 50% Williams 50% Fordham....and being 100% Williams means being a little bit stubborn, I don’t think my Mama would argue about that because she’s 100% Williams too....Cousin Larry was in his 60s....so him getting saved was a big deal....and said “Mama that’s great”....and she said “The reason Larry said He finally came around, is he saw the love we poured out on Mrs. Madge last week when we prayed for her....and He FINALLY understood the love of God....and so He got saved.”

Application

Church I had no idea Larry was paying attention to that....I wasn’t concerned about it....I wanted to show my good friend Mrs. Madge love....and that cancer took her life a few months later…and she asked me to preach her funeral…and it was the second one I’d ever preached and I was as nervous as I could be....but I was just trying to love another Christian....and church listen, a NON-Christian SAW that love without me even REALIZING it, and it brought that man to the Lord.

Friends, Jesus said it clearly: The distinctive characteristic that stands out to the Non-Christian is our love.

Not screaming at them that they’re headed to hell or throwing Bible verses at them....our love. Once they SEE our love, they want to be a part of that....THEN they will receive truth....I didn’t say that, Jesus did!

I’m not saying to accept people’s sin or allow it or anything like that....but I am saying they need to see our love. THAT love that Jesus showed us on the cross....when we show it to others, it is contagious! It’s irresistible. …and people crave it. They’re already looking for it in life, they just don’t realize it.

Church we’re supposed to live in love....and THAT is what draws people to Christ.

VI. Point #3: We Must Forgive Like Jesus

Explanation

Jesus has been teaching and explaining, and He hardly has a chance to take a breath when Peter can’t stand it anymore and asks: Jesus where are you going?

He sounds like a little kid doesn’t he? Daddy where are you going? Why can’t I go? I want to come!

Of course we know the place: heaven

He isn’t satisfied with Jesus’s answer....so he goes to an extreme:

John 13:37 NASB95

Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.”

I don’t think there’s any way Peter could’ve been ready for Jesus’s answer…the announcement that not only will Peter deny he even knows Jesus....but He’ll do it THREE times in one night. All 4 Gospels include this announcement…I find it interesting that here in John’s account, Peter doesn’t say another word after that until Chapter 18....and here we are in chapter 13....that must’ve hit Peter in the face like a stinging snowball because it surely did shut him up didn’t it? No more BIG talk for Peter....

Illustration

Holman New Testament Commentary: John III. Conclusion: How to React When Your Friends Let You Down

Before the retirement and death of Charles Schultz, each year the football season began with Charlie Brown charging the football while Lucy held it. Each year he believed this time she would keep it there until he kicked it. But each year she yanked the ball away at the last second and Charlie fell on his backside, once more let down by his friend.

Application

Church: sometimes our friends let us down....and in this case, Jesus was definitely let down…not just by Peter though....Judas....and all of the disciples. When He is in the Garden later on, the soldiers come to drag Jesus away....the Disciples scatter like cowards and abandon Him.

It is the human condition to let others down....to disappoint....and unless you go hide in a hole somewhere and never interact with another human being, YOU are going to both let somebody else down AND be let down yourself....how did Jesus handle it?

The same way He handles it when WE let Him down today....with forgiveness and grace.

Church aren’t you glad that God handles our let downs with forgiveness today, amen?

That’s the way you should handle others who let YOU down today...

“Ahhh but Preacher you don’t know what they did to me”…You’re right, I don’t. And I also don’t know what YOU’VE done to let down God either....but He still forgives.

Let US be forgiving, just as Jesus was to Peter....just as He IS to us. Let’s be forgiving.

VII. Conclusion

a. Let me ask you this morning, are you living for that forgiving Jesus? For the God that can even use tragedy for His glory? Are you living in love like He gave us in His new commandment?

Let’s start today, church....and they’ll know us by our love.

b. Let’s Pray