John 13:31-38 The New Commandment
“So, when he (Judas) had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Judas Iscariot has taken off to meet with the Jewish religious leaders so that he can eventually lead them to Jesus. Jesus knows that his remaining time is short and that he is about to be sacrificed. While this sacrifice will glorify the Heavenly Father and ultimately also glorify Jesus, there’s nothing pretty or appealing about what’s about to happen. Realizing that things are rapidly coming to crisis point, Jesus begins telling his disciples those things he most wants them to know.
The first and most important thing Jesus wants for the disciples is that they love one another. Sounds simple, right? But this is a bunch of guys who have spent much of the time on the road arguing over who will be the greatest in the Kingdom of God. At one point, James and John even enlisted their mother to plead on their behalf. Work with one another? Certainly! Love one another? Hmmm. And Jesus wants these men to love one another as he has loved them. What does that mean?
Jesus has called these men from fishing boats on the shores of Galilee, from a tax collector’s office, and from so many other places. Each of these men has followed Jesus for one reason: Love. On the day Jesus called each of these men, they looked at him, and his face radiated pure love and acceptance such as they had never known before. Now these men have followed Jesus around the countryside, wearing out pairs of sandals as they have trudged through towns and villages, risking their lives in small boats on the Sea of Galilee, wondering where their next meal will come from. All for the love of Jesus that has inspired and encouraged them. Jesus wants these men to love one another with that same deep kind of love that overlooks offenses and never quits.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
“Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”
Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”
Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”
Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.”
Jesus realizes that he is about to die; this is why he says, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow me afterward.” Peter is sincere; he really thinks he would lay down his life for Jesus’ sake. But Jesus knows Peter better than Peter knows himself and warns Peter that Peter will deny him three times this very night.
The amazing thing about Jesus’ love for the disciples is that he loves them in spite of their defects and failings. Jesus knows that Peter is a rough tough fisherman with a great deal of physical courage; however, Jesus also knows that Peter hates being mocked as a country bumpkin. Most Ghanaian languages have a phrase describing ignorant people from the bush, and in Jesus’ day, Galileans are considered bush people. Peter’s test will not be a physical one but a personal one, and he will fail.
Jesus knows that all the other disciples are going to take off, leaving him to face interrogation and abuse by himself. But if this is the case, why does Jesus still love these men anyway? Jesus knows that his crucifixion is going to provide the sternest of tests for all the disciples, and that only John will stand the test and remain faithful throughout the ordeal. But Jesus also knows that once the disciples have weathered this storm, they will learn and grow and they will never fail him again for the rest of their lives.
What can we learn from this aspect of Jesus’ life? Sometimes people will fail us, no matter what we do. But we should not allow our disappointment to cause us to reject people. Jesus chose these disciples, knowing that eventually they would fail, but Jesus also knew that ultimately when the Holy Spirit would descend, these men would become fearless preachers and teachers, spreading the news of the Kingdom throughout the known world.
Jesus knew Peter’s weaknesses, just as he knows ours. How many times have we failed Jesus, and yet, Jesus has not rejected us but picks us up, dusts us off, and orders us to keep going. If Jesus is willing to do this for us, why are we reluctant to do it for others? Remember that Jesus told the disciples to love one another as he had loved them. If we have experienced the love of Jesus, we must share that love with those around us, whether or not we think they are worthy. God qualifies the unqualified and God is the One who sends people to us, expecting us to love them no matter what. When we are willing to extend that agape love to others, it transforms them so that they can then pass that love on to those around them, creating a tsunami of God’s love and grace. May God help us so that we specialize in loving and not in judging!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to love one another as You have loved us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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