December 9, 2010
LOVING HIS WAY
John 13:21-38
Adam Sandwick
Central Truth
Jesus' ministry and our Christian walk are summed up in Jesus' challenge for us to love as He did . . . sacrificially.
Key Verse | John 13:34–35
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35)
John 13:21-38
One of You Will Betray Me
21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side, 1 13:23 Greek in the bosom of Jesus 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus 2 13:24 Greek lacks Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
A New Commandment
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 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.’ 34 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. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial
36 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.” 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? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
Dive Deeper | John 13:21-38
From the time of Moses, God has commanded, "[L]ove your neighbor as yourself." (Leviticus 19:18) So why does Jesus call this a "new commandment?" It was the way Jesus loved and whom He loved that was revolutionary. He loved sacrificially and loved those society deemed "unlovable."
His comments came just after He washed His disciples' feet and hours before He would give His life for them and the rest of us. We know what His disciples thought about love from what He taught them during the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:43-48) and the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). They were no different than we are today. They wanted to be the ones to decide who their neighbors were and, thus, whom to love. But according to Jesus in Matthew 5:47b, "Do not even the Gentiles do the same?"
Jesus set the perfect example for us by loving Jews, Gentiles, tax collectors, and other "sinners" of the day. Jesus' ministry was rich with lessons in loving others, and it shows in the writings of those closest to Him and in the way most of them gave their lives for Him. The same John who was in the Upper Room later wrote, "We love, because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
There is true joy that comes from God when we choose to love others sacrificially. This is contrary to what the world tells us about self-preservation. I can't explain it, but I can testify to my experiences that I have never regretted laying down my own interests (what I value) for the good of others and the glory of God. This is most often evident in my family. Because I know the bad in them as well as I know the good, it's not natural to want to put them ahead of myself. But choosing to love them like Jesus loves me, and being loved by them in the same way despite my shortcomings, has brought me unspeakable joy and led to full, meaningful relationships.
Discussion Questions
1. How are you doing at loving those you wouldn't readily classify as your "neighbors"?
2. Do you believe you are loved by God and can be used by Him to love others?
3. Have you allowed someone other than Jesus to shape what you think love is? Are you familiar enough with Scripture to rebuke those lies?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. At this point, how had Jesus loved His disciples? How has He loved you? So, how can you live out verse 34 (Remember yesterday’s reading)?
2. Verse 35 says our actions are going to show the world that we are His disciples. Who is watching you?