Sermon for 5/15/22

John 13:31-35

This morning I'll be reading John chapter 13 verses 31 through 35. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. John 13:31-35 Jesus and His disciples are having the last supper and Judas has just been told by Jesus to go and do what needs to be done,,, and now that he has left,,, Jesus can continue with His instructions to the rest of the disciples.

John 13:31–35 (HCSB) 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself and will glorify Him at once. 33 “Children, I am with you a little while longer. You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’ so now I tell you. 34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. -----------------------------------------------------------

Last Sunday we looked at John 10:22-30 and the way that we should always follow Jesus,,, maintain that relationship with Him so that we can stay on the right path,,, and then,,, no-one,,, or anything,,, can snatch us out of God’s hand.

We also gave credit to the mothers,,, (especially since it was mother’s day),,, who we have followed to church,,, or even someone that isn’t our mother,,, but yet they convinced us to attend church,,, or continue to attend church,,, either by their example of the way that they lived their life,,, or by invitation.

And then,,, once we have made that commitment to following the mother’s to church,,, to be sure that we continue to follow Jesus to stay on the right path as we proceed in our journey while here on earth.

This morning we will look at these verses in John,,, and see how they help us in our walk with God this week.

Earlier in the week,,, as I was preparing for today’s scripture,,, I felt God leading me to these verses,,, but then after everything that has happened leading up to today,,, I wondered if they needed changing,,, but then I realized that this command that we will look at in the last 2 verses this morning,,, a command made by Jesus,,, that’s always important,,, no matter what we are going through at the time.

So as I always try to do,,, I will follow God’s guidance this morning,,, as we look at these verses.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 31 says: 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.

As soon as Judas left,,, Jesus began to speak with the disciples more freely and intimately.

The tension was gone. “Now the Son of Man is glorified,” He said.

The Lord was anticipating the work of redemption which He was about to accomplish.

His death might have seemed like defeat, yet it was the means by which lost sinners could be saved.

It was followed by His resurrection and ascension, and He was greatly honored in it all.

And God is glorified in the work of the Savior.

It proclaimed Him to be a holy God who could not pass over sin,,, but also a loving God who did not desire the death of the sinner; - it proclaimed how He could be a just God,,, yet,,, be able to justify sinners.

Every attribute of deity,,, was greatly magnified,,, at Calvary.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 32 says: 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself and will glorify Him at once.

“If God is glorified in Him,”,,, or Jesus,,, and we know from reading and studying that that He is,,, then,,, “God will also glorify Jesus,,, in Himself.”

Which means that God will see that appropriate honor is given to His beloved Son. “And glorify Him immediately”—without delay.

And of course,,, God fulfilled this prediction,,, by raising Jesus from the dead,,, and seating Him at His own right hand,,, in heaven.

My Believer’s Bible Commentary says that,,, God would not wait until the kingdom was ushered in.

He would glorify His Son immediately.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 33 says: 33 “Children, I am with you a little while longer. You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’ so now I tell you.

For the first time,,, Jesus addressed His disciples as little children,,,— which is a term of endearment.

And He used it only after Judas had left.

He was only to be with them a little while longer.

Then He would die on the cross.

They would seek Him then,,, but would not be able to follow Him,,, for He would return to heaven.

If you remember,,, Jesus had told the same thing to the Jews,,, but He meant it in a different sense.

For the disciples,,, His departure would only be temporary.

He would come again for them (chap. 14).

But for the Jews,,, His leaving them would be final.

He was returning to heaven,,, and they could not follow Him because of their unbelief.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 34 says: 34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.

During Jesus’ absence,,, they were to be governed by the commandment of love.

This commandment was not new in itself,,, because the Ten Commandments taught love to God and to one’s neighbor.

But this commandment was new in other ways.

It was new,,, because the Holy Spirit would empower believers to obey it.

It was new,,, in that it was superior to the old.

The old said, “Love your neighbor,” - but the new said,,, “Love your enemies.”

It has been well said,,, that the law of love to others,,, is now explained with new clarity,,, enforced by new motives,,, and obligations,,, illustrated by a new example,,, and obeyed,,, in a new way.

Also it was new,,, as explained in the verse,,, because it called for a higher degree of love: - “Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. .”

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 35 says: 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The badge of Christian discipleship is not a cross worn around the neck,,, or on the lapel,,, or a robe,,, or some other distinctive type of clothing.

Anyone could profess discipleship by wearing these.

Instead,,, the true mark of a Christian,,, will always be,,, love for his fellow Christians.

This requires divine power,,, we can’t do this all the time on our own,,, and this power is only given to us,,, by the Holy Spirit living inside us,,, guiding us daily,,, as we love others,,, as Jesus first loved us.

----------------------------------------------------------- In verse 34,,, the word command in the original Greek,,, means an injunction,,, ordinance,,, or law.

So Jesus was not only giving us an authoritative order,,, but he was also instituting a new law to replace the law of Moses — the law of love.

We are called to love one another so we’ll walk in the new law of love.

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You might ask,,, Who Is Called?

Jesus gave this command following the last supper and after Judas had left to betray him.

This left Jesus with the remaining eleven men who had chosen to follow him.

Jesus’ words were that everyone will know you are my disciples by following his command.

So,,, Everyone who calls themselves a follower of Christ is called to walk in love.

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But,,, now,,, How do we Love?

When Jesus told his disciples to love one another he said to do it as I have loved you.

That is a tall order.

We see an example of God’s love for us in Romans 5:8 that says: But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!

We are shown how we are to love by this verse in John 15:13 “No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.”

We are called to love wholeheartedly and sacrificially like God loves us.

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And now,,, Who do we Love?

Some might argue that because Jesus was talking to his disciples and said one another that means Christians are only called to love other Christians.

Others say it means Christians are called to love other Christians more than those who are not disciples.

Parts of both of these statements are true,,, and parts of both of these statements are not true.

Of course,,, we are called to love our brothers and sister’s in Christ,,, but Jesus took it further.

He was clear in his messages about who to love in Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

After the most important command in Mark 12:29-30,,, Jesus said in Mark 12:31 “The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”

Who is our neighbor was answered by the parable of the good Samaritan found in Luke 10:30-37.

So we see that,,, Walking in love,,, is loving your enemies,,, your neighbor as yourself,,, and anyone you come across,,, at any time or place,,, that needs your love.

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So,,, Why is Love So Important?

Because God is love,,, and we’re made in his image and likeness,,, - ,,, the very fabric of our being,,, requires love.

When Jesus spoke of all the troubles that would take place on the earth in years to come,,, the need for our obedience to the law of love is glaring.

Matthew 24:12 “Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.”

When the lack of love is everywhere,,, the love of God pouring through us shines bright.

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How Can We Do This?

There is only one way we are able to love like God.

We get love from him.

Apart from this,,, we are not capable of loving like God.

1 John 4:19 says: “We love because He first loved us.”

1 John 4:16-17 “And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, for we are as He is in this world.”

We obey Jesus’ command to love others,,, by the grace of God,,, alone.

God’s love,,, is shown in the things that we do for others,,, those we know,,, those we don’t know,,, and even those who are our enemies,,, just as Jesus said.

And we are known,,, as Christians,,, because of God’s love,,, flowing out of us,,, as we help those that are in need,,, each,,, and every,,, day!

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