THE NEW COMMANDMENT

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.

WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP

All around us new life is emerging,

though we may not see it yet.

All around us, God makes things new.

Let us open our eyes and see –

see the new things God is doing,

see God at work in and among us!

HYMN

31: Come let us unite and sing

PRAYERS

Come, let us praise the name of the Lord,

the one whose name is so great,

whose glory is above the earth and the heavens.

Come, let us praise the name of the Lord,

who was and is and is to come:

Amen.

Lord, you gave a commandment to love one another.

You loved your disciples of old; you love us today.

You will continue to love into eternity.

Help us each day to give life to your words

by sharing and showing your love to one another.

It’s not always easy and often we slip up.

Sometimes what we say can be hurtful.

Sometimes what we do can cause pain.

We are sorry, Lord, for saying or doing what we shouldn’t.

Forgive us and help us to live out your words in our lives today.

Help us to speak and show your love to one another

and sow it forward into the future.

Amen.

Jesus knows our flaws yet loves us unconditionally.

Be assured of his forgiveness.

He has wiped our slate clean.

New beginnings beckon.

Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father Who art in heaven.

HYMN

260: Jesus is Lord

OFFERING

HYMN

42: O Love of God, how strong and true

READINGS

John 13: 31-38

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.

SERMON

SO IN THIS MORING’S READING JESUS REVEALS GOD’S NATURE AND GLORY. PERHAPS IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT JESUS ANNOUNCES THIS AT THE LAST SUPPER RATHER THAN AT THE TRANSFIGURATION. JUDAS HAS JUST GONE OUT TO BETRAY HIM. JESUS FACES DESERTION, DISGRACE, AND AN AGONISING DEATH. IT IS ONE OF THE DARKEST MOMENTS IN THE GOSPEL. BUT AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND JESUS LOOKS TOWARDS THE CROSS, SHOWING GOD’S LOVE FOR THE WORLD.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF WHAT HAS BECOME KNOWN AS THE FAREWELL DISCOURSES, AND THIS CONTAINS TWO THEMES—JESUS’ RELATIONSHIP TO THE DISCIPLES AND HIS SPECIFIC PREDICTION ABOUT PETER.

JOHN’S GOSPEL IS MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE AS HE USES THE IMAGERY OF DARKNESS AND LIGHT IN VERSES (31-32) JESUS SPEAKS OF HIS COMING GLORIFICATION. IT IS AS IF THE GLORY IS SEEN AGAINST THE DARKNESS SURROUNDING JUDAS’S DEPARTURE.

THESE VERSES SHOW THE WAY JESUS FACED THE COMING PASSION.

HE THEN GIVE THE GREAT COMMAND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER

HOW CAN ANYONE, EVEN GOD, COMMAND LOVE? AT LEAST HOW CAN ANYONE COMMAND WHAT MOST OF US CALL LOVE -- THAT EMOTION, THAT FEELING OF ATTACHMENT OR ENDEARMENT TO OTHERS? BUT I DON‘T THINK JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE TYPICALLY CALL LOVE TODAY.

A. WHAT IS LOVE ANYWAY?

WE CAN LOVE ALL SORTS OF THINGS FROM OUR WIVES AND HUSBANDS TO FRIED CHICKEN OUR HOUSE, CAR MAYBE OUR GARDEN. LOVE CAN BE CARING DEEPLY FOR SOMEONE OR SOMETHING ELSE, THIS EMOTION THAT IS OFTEN OVERWHELMING

TO OTHERS THOUGH, LOVE CAN BE A SELFISH SENTIMENT THAT CRIES OUT FOR ATTENTION AND FLATTERY. THE I WANT SYNDROME

MANY IN TODAY’S SOCIETY THINK OF LOVE AS BEING JUST THAT EMOTIONAL FEELING, THE LUMP IN THE THROAT.

CAN YOU RECALL YOUR FIRST BOYFRIEND OR GIRLFRIEND, THE KNOT IN THE STOMACH WAITING FOR THE FIRST DATE?

BUT THIS ISN'T WHAT JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT. JESUS ISN'T SAYING THAT THE WORLD WILL KNOW WE'RE CHRISTIANS BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS GOING AROUND KISSING AND HUGGING EACH OTHER.

NO, THE LOVE CHRIST COMMANDS IS NOT SO MUCH SOMETHING TO FEEL, AS SOMETHING TO DO. IT ISN'T AN EMOTION AS IT IS AN ACTION. JESUS HIMSELF GAVE US THE IDEA OF THIS LOVE IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT WHEN HE SAID. “ SO, IN EVERYTHING, DO TO OTHERS WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO TO YOU, FOR THIS SUMS UP THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.” (MAT 7:12)

JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT HOW WE BEHAVE, ABOUT HOW WE ACT TOWARD OTHERS, HOW WE TREAT THEM. THAT'S WHY JESUS TELLS HIS DISCIPLES AND US TODAY: "A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE TO YOU." YOU CAN'T COMMAND AN EMOTION -- BUT YOU CAN COMMAND AN ACTION.

THE LOVE JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT HERE IS AN ACT OF THE WILL. NOT AN INVOLUNTARY RESPONSE TO A SITUATION, IT IS A DELIBERATE CHOICE, A MIND SET AND FOCUSED ON THIS NEW LOVE THAT IS NOT BASED ON EMOTION.

THIS CHRISTIAN LOVE JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU FALL INTO, IT IS SOMETHING YOU DO.

THIS IS A COMMAND BY JESUS, WE NEED TO THINK OF LOVE AS AN ACTION, AND OF SERVICE.

ONE OF THE GREATEST TEMPTATIONS ON EARTH IS TO REDUCE LOVE TO HUMAN TERMS -- TO TALK LOVE INSTEAD OF LIVING IT. LOVE IS SOMETHING YOU DO!

WORDS ARE CHEAP (UNLESS YOU HIRE A LAWYER). IT'S EASY TO TALK LOVE.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH WE LOVE PEOPLE -- BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHETHER WE CARE ENOUGH TO KNOW THEIR NEEDS AND THEN DO OUR BEST TO MEET THEM.

THE ANCIENT GREEKS HAD FOUR DIFFERENT WORDS FOR LOVE. THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO RUIN ONE GOOD WORD BY MAKING IT MEAN 20 DIFFERENT THINGS.

1.THE FIRST WORD WAS STORGE -MEANS A "FAMILY-TYPE LOVE" "NATURAL AFFECTION"

2. A SECOND WORD IS EROS, FROM WHICH WE GET OUR ENGLISH WORD "EROTIC."

3. A THIRD WORD, IS PHILIA. THIS IS THE WORD FOR EMOTIONAL LOVE; FOR THE WARMTH AND AFFECTION SHARED BY FRIENDS.

4. BUT THE MOST THE USED WORD FOR LOVE IN THE BIBLE, AND THE LOVE JESUS IS COMMANDING HERE, IS AGAPE. IT IS GODLY LOVE, UNNATURAL, SUPERNATURAL LOVE. THE KIND OF LOVE THAT CARES AND DOESN'T DEMAND A REASON TO CARE.

WHEN PETER IS REACTING TO JESUS IN TODAY’S READING HE IS REACTING OUT OF LOVE, BUT IT IS PHILIA.

IF YOU RECALL THE MEETING OF PETER AND JESUS HAVING BREAKFAST ON THE SHORE. JESUS ASKS THREE TIMES “DO YOU LOVE ME”

IN GREEK PETER ANSWERS THE FIRST TWO TIMES WITH THE WORD PHILIA.

HE FINALY ANSWERS WITH THE WORD AGAPE. HE BEGINS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT JESUS WANTS OF HIM.

AGAPE SAYS: "I WANT TO HELP YOU -- WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED." IT DOES REFER TO WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE ME HOW I FEEL MY EMOTIONS, BUT TO WHAT'S GOING ON OUTSIDE ME -- WHAT I DO.

GOING BACK TO OUR TEXT, WHY WOULD JESUS SAY: "A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE YOU." WHAT'S NEW ABOUT THIS? HADN'T LOVE BEEN COMMANDED BEFORE? WAY BACK IN LEVITICUS 19:18, GOD SAID: "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF."

WHAT JESUS IS SAYING HERE. HIS COMMANDMENT WAS NEW AS TO THE QUALITY AND NATURE OF LOVE.

THE LOVE HE WAS COMMANDING HAD A NEW MEASURE..... IT WAS TO BE LIKE HIS LOVE FOR HIS DISCIPLES AND US TODAY .

THE LOVE HE WAS COMMANDING SPRANG FROM A NEW POWER, .... THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THE APOSTLE PAUL TOLD THE GALATIANS (5.14) "FOR THE WHOLE LAW IS FULFILLED IN THE STATEMENT, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF."

WHEN WE TRULY LOVE OTHERS, NO LAWS WILL BE NEEDED TO GOVERN OUR BEHAVIOUR OR CONDUCT, FOR LOVE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND ANY LAW.

THIS NEW COMMANDMENT SUMMED UP ALL OTHER COMMANDMENTS. WHEN ONE LIVES BY THIS LOVE, IT FULFILS ALL THAT GOD DESIRES.

THE PEOPLE JESUS COMMANDS US TO LOVE ARE THOSE WHO ARE UNLOVELY, STINGY, NASTY, DULL, SELFISH, OR MEAN. THEY ARE THE PEOPLE IN OUR FAMILIES, OUR WORKPLACES, YES, EVEN IN OUR CHURCHES, THAT WE HAVE A HARD TIME LIKING AND GETTING ALONG WITH.

THE RULE FOR US ALL IS PERFECTLY SIMPLE. DO NOT WASTE TIME BOTHERING WHETHER YOU "LOVE" YOUR NEIGHBOUR; ACT AS IF YOU DID. AS SOON AS WE DO THIS, WE LEARN ONE OF THE GREAT SECRETS. WHEN YOU ARE BEHAVING AS IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE, YOU WILL GROW TO LOVE THEM.

IT IS OFTEN IN THE LITTLE THINGS OF LIFE IN WHICH WE SHOW OUR LOVE, AN ENCOURAGING WORD, A NOTE SENT, A VISIT OR PHONE CALL TO ONE SHUT IN AT HOME, A RIDE OFFERD..

'EVERY DAY IS A MIRACLE" IS A LOVELY SONG THAT LIVES UP TO ITS TITLE. THE COMPOSER TELLS AN EQUALLY BEAUTIFUL STORY OF HOW HE WAS INSPIRED TO WRITE IT: "DRIVING ALONG A QUIET COUNTRY ROAD, I SUDDENLY REALISED I WAS LOST. I STOPPED AT A SMALL FARMHOUSE TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS.

I SAW AN ELDERLY WOMAN SITTING ON THE FRONT PORCH. AN ELDERLY MAN WAS WORKING AROUND THE FRONT YARD AND WHISTLING NON-STOP.

THE WHISTLING WAS LOUD AND CLEAR, BUT IT SEEMED RATHER PURPOSELESS. THERE WAS NO RECOGNISABLE TUNE; JUST WHISTLING.

WHEN I WALKED UP TO THE MAN, I COULDN'T RESIST SAYING, "I SEE YOU ARE FOND OF WHISTLING."

HE SAID, " OH, IT'S SECOND NATURE WITH ME NOW." THEN, POINTING TO THE WOMAN ON THE PORCH, HE EXPLAINED THAT THEY HAD BEEN HAPPILY MARRIED FOR 38 YEARS WHEN SHE BECAME BLIND. COMING AS IT DID SO LATE IN LIFE, THE BLINDNESS HAD BEEN A VERY FRIGHTENING THING FOR HER AND SHE WAS STILL FEELING A DEEP INSECURITY.

THE HUSBAND SAID, "I FIGURED IF I JUST KEEP WHISTLING WHEN I'M OUTSIDE THE HOUSE, SHE'LL HAVE THE SECURITY OF KNOWING I'M STILL WITH HER. " WHAT THAT MAN WAS REALLY DOING BY HIS CONSTANT WHISTLING WAS SAYING TO HIS WIFE, "DON'T BE AFRAID! I'M HERE, I LOVE YOU."

THE SCRIPTURES MENTION SOME GENERAL PRINCIPLES CONCERNING WHAT LOVE REALLY IS.

WE CAN SEE THEM IN SEVERAL "ONE ANOTHER" PASSAGES. WE ARE TOLD TO:

*SERVE ONE ANOTHER (GAL 5.13)

*ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER (ROM 15.17)

*BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS (gAL 6.2)

I COULD GO ON:

WHEN WE CONSIDER THESE STATEMENTS, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT LOVE IS MUCH MORE THAN MERELY A FEELING - IT IS NOTHING LESS THAN ACTING IN ANOTHER'S HIGHEST GOOD, DOING WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO MINISTER TO THEIR NEEDS.

THIS IS THE THING THAT MAKES JESUS' COMMAND NEW

IT'S THERE IN VERSE 34: "love one another, even as I have loved you," WE'RE NOT LEFT IN THE DARK AS TO HOW OUR LOVE IS TO BE EXPRESSED. CHRIST IS THE MEASURE THAT DEFINES OUR LOVE.

A. FIRST, CHRIST'S LOVE WAS UNCONDITIONAL.

HIS LOVE WAS WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF PERSONS WAS. HE DIDN'T LOVE PEOPLE WHO WERE NICE TO LOVE, AS WE OFTEN DO.

HE CHOSE TO LOVE THE UNLOVELY; PEOPLE WHO WERE REJECTED, DIFFICULT TO LOVE, LOOKED DOWN UPON AND HELD IN CONTEMPT BY SOCIETY.

HE LOVED THEM, NOT BECAUSE HE WANTED THE GOOD FEELING OF LOVE, BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY NEEDED LOVE.

THIS IS THE GREAT CHARACTERISTIC OF HIS LOVE -- IT WENT OUT TO THOSE WHO NEEDED LOVE --- REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY ARE LIKE, NO MATTER HOW DIRTY, LEPROUS, HURTFUL, PROUD OR UNDESERVING THEY MAY BE.

JESUS KNEW PEOPLE THRU AND THRU HE KNOWS YOU AND ME, YET HE LOVED THEM AND US. THINK ABOUT HIS OWN APOSTLES. HE LIVED WITH THEM DAY-IN AND DAY-OUT FOR YEARS, KNEW ALL THAT WAS TO BE KNOWN ABOUT THEM, AWARE OF ALL THEIR WEAKNESSES, AND HE STILL LOVED THEM.

MANY TIMES, WE THINK THAT THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE IS HATE, BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE. HATE IS A LACK OF LOVE.

THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE IS SELFISHNESS. IT IS POSSIBLE TO HATE SOMEONE WITHOUT EVER HAVING ANY CONSCIOUS FEELING OF RESENTMENT TOWARDS THEM.

HEAR THAT AGAIN:

IT IS POSSIBLE TO HATE SOMEONE WITHOUT EVER EXPERIENCING TOWARD THEM ANY CONSCIOUS FEELING OF RESENTMENT.

LOVE IS CONCERN, SELFLESSNESS -- AND TO BE UNCONCERNED, TO IGNORE OR NEGLECT, TO HAVE OUR THOUGHTS AND ATTENTION FIXED ONLY ON OURSELVES --- IS NOT TO LOVE -- AND NOT TO LOVE IS TO HATE.

SUCH UNCONCERN IS HATE -- EVEN THOUGH YOU FEEL NO ANIMOSITY UNCONCERN SHOWS A LACK OF LOVE -- REMEMBER THE STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN?? THE PRIEST AND LEVI’S MAY HAVE HAD NO PARTICULAR ANIMOSITY TOWARD THE INJURED MAN, BUT THEY HAD NO PARTICULAR CONCERN EITHER. THE ONE WHO SHOWED LOVE TO HIM WAS THE ONE WHO MET HIS NEED, REGARDLESS OF HOW HE FELT. (LUKE 17.30-37)

HOW ARE YOU DOING FOLLOWING JESUS' EXAMPLE? DO YOU ALLOW HIS SPIRIT TO SHOW HIS LOVE IN YOUR HEART -- REACHING OUT TO TOUCH OTHERS: TO SERVE THEM, FORGIVE THEM, HELP THEM, PRAY FOR THEM, AND TO BUILD THEM UP BY THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF YOUR CONCERN FOR THEM?

DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU FEEL LIKE LOVING ANOTHER -- OR YOU MAY WAIT FOREVER. DECIDE NOW THAT YOU WILL NOT BASE HOW YOU ACT UPON YOUR EMOTIONS, BUT UPON THE WORD OF GOD.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34 ) JESUS NEVER ISSUED A COMMAND WITHOUT GIVING US THE CORRESPONDING POWER AND ABILITY TO OBEY THE COMMAND. DECIDE NOW TO OBEY THE WORD OF THE LORD.

HYMN

687: In heavenly love abiding

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION

For being with us at our beginning,

for being with us at our journey’s end,

for being with us today, here, and now,

For relationships,

for family and friends,

for you making your home among us,

For your sharing our tears,

for your words trustworthy and true,

for your promises that give us hope,

For the journey we are on today.

like excited youngsters asking ’Are we there yet?’

our cry is, ’What next, Lord? What next?’

For your ever-loving presence

and the joyful expectation of what is to come,

we say a heartfelt:

Thank you, Lord.

Amen.

We pray, dear God,

for places where there is division and for countries in the grip

of civil war...we continue our prayers for the Ukraine and the Russian soldiers forced to fight may your Holy Spirit bring peace.

for countries where there is religious persecution…

may your Holy Spirit bring unity.

for towns and cities where gang warfare brings fear…

may your Holy Spirit bring hope.

for communities where there is inequality…

may your Holy Spirit bring dignity.

for workplaces where there is insecurity…

may your Holy Spirit bring confidence.

for homes where there is brokenness…

may your Holy Spirit bring healing.

for churches where there is dilemma…

may your holy Spirit bring life:

to your glory.

Amen.

HYMN

267: Love divine, all love excelling.

BLESSING

God, who is Alpha and Omega,

the beginning and the end of all things,

you know our past – the burdens we carry.

We know that you will wipe away every tear

and make all things new –

though we cannot always see the work you are doing,

help us to learn from the past,

to live in the present,

and hope for the future.

In all of life’s joys and sadness’s.

may we love one another as you love us.

Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

END