Love As Jesus Loved (John 13:21-38)
The other day my 7-year-old daughter told me that she saw a Christian in school. I was rather intrigued and when I asked her what she meant she said she had seen an older girl pray before eating. I was encouraged to hear this and took the opportunity to ask her if she also prayed before eating on her own since we had taught our children to give thanks to God for the food.
Our actions tell a lot about our beliefs and convictions. They might not tell everything, but they do tell us something. For my daughter, only Christians pray before eating and so she concluded from what she saw that the girl was a Christian. My daughter’s sharing reminded me that people are observing us and that our actions are indeed part of our witness.
If someone were to follow you around for a day, what would they conclude from their observations?
In John 13:34-35, Jesus makes clear how we are to live before the watching world. He says that the world will know that we are His disciples when they observe us loving one another as He loved. Therefore, my exhortation to you today is show Christ by loving one another as Jesus loved.
Loving others may be one of the most difficult things to do, especially when we consider those who are different, those who are offensive and even those who are needy. Perhaps that is why you prefer spending time alone or at most with a pet.But do not despair. God knows that loving one another is no easy feat in this broken world. This is why He demonstrates His love for us by sending His beloved Son to be our Savior.
Jesus came to illustrate true love so that we will not only receive salvation but be enabled to love as He loved. Throughout His ministry on earth, Jesus demonstrated love by feeding people, proclaiming good news, giving sight to the blind and causing the lame to walk again. But His ultimate act of love would be displayed at the cross, where He would bear our sins and die the death that we deserve.
Therefore, the first part of our sermon text, which runs from John 13:21-30, centers on Judas’ betrayal, which is the trigger event that leads to Jesus’ crucifixion. Then in John 13:31-38, Jesus prepares His disciples for His imminent departure by teaching about His glorification and command to love one another.
So part one of our text is Judas’ betrayal, and the second part is Jesus’ glorification and command to love one another.
As you are turning to John 13:21, let me remind you of the preceding verses that were preached last week.
Jesus and His disciples have gathered in the upper room for one final meal together. The mood is somber as Jesus’s hour to leave this world and return to the Father had come. In preparation Jesus illustrates His ministry of cleansing sinners and affection for His disciples by washing their feet. He also prepares them for his betrayal by quoting Psalm 41:9, which says, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’
It is on this note that we arrive at today’s text.
Judas’ Betrayal (Jn 13:21-30)
As one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, Judas would have received much instruction and care from the Lord. Judas had eaten the bread that Jesus miraculously multiplied. He had drunk the wine that Jesus had made from water. Judas experienced comfort during the storm when Jesus rebuked the wind and waves. There were times when Jesus spoke only to His disciples and even called them His friends.
It is no wonder that Jesus was troubled in spirit and none of the disciples could believe that one of them could betray Jesus. Even Simon Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved did not suspect a traitor in their midst. When Judas left to carry out his evil deed, the disciples were still thinking that Jesus had sent Judas on some late-night errand. Yet Judas really sold Jesus to his enemies for only 30 pieces of silver. It was indeed one of The Twelve who had stabbed Jesus in the back.
The agony Jesus experienced from the betrayal communicates the wonderous mystery that the Son of God has come down from heaven and taken on frail humanity. Though being fully God, Jesus enters our broken world and experiences the suffering that we endure.
If you have been reeling from a betrayal and lamenting that no one understands, take comfort in knowing that Jesus can empathize. Jesus was completely innocent. He had done no wrong. Yet He endured the worst sort of betrayal. Therefore, you can find empathy in Christ. You can cast your burdens upon Him and experience comfort and healing.
Let us also consider how Jesus interacts with Judas. Even though Jesus knew about Judas’ betrayal, He still acted graciously towards Him. He shared a meal with Judas and even washed His feet. Judas could have confessed his sin and sought forgiveness when Jesus extended to him a morsel of bread instead of pointing a sword at him.
Although we live in a cutthroat world that is quick to judge, we can find comfort in knowing that we have a God who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and willing to forgive all who humbly seek forgiveness.
Let us not mistake God’s patience to judge as a sign that it is ok to indulge our fleshly desires or feed our pride.
But let us not mistake God’s patience to judge as a sign that it is ok to indulge our fleshly desires or feed our pride. God desires you to flee temptation before it is too late. Those who ignore God’s warning and persist in sin will be judged. Sadly, Judas did not soften his heart. Instead, he hardened his resolve to reject Jesus and allowed Satan to enter.
Let us be clear, Judas was not forced to betray Jesus. He did not sell out Jesus because he had been demon possessed. Judas resolved on his own to jump ship. It was only after he had chosen to proceed with the betrayal that Satan entered him.
Rather ominously, John states that it was night when Judas left.
Judas had been in the presence of the Light of the World. But children of darkness hate the light. And Judas chose to return from where he had come. He turned his back on the one who promised eternal life. And that marked the end of Judas.
This is indeed a sobering point for those of us who have grown up in church. It is a blessing to have parents bring us to church and teach us God’s truths at home. Yet knowing Bible stories and singing Christian songs does not save us. We must repent of our sins and believe in Jesus for salvation.
Friends, have you embraced the Light of the World or will you walk away into the night?
At this point of the narrative, Satan seems to be unnervingly strong. Like the terrorist who managed to bypass airport security and hijack several planes on 9/11, Satan had infiltrated Jesus’ inner circle. One of The Twelve whom Jesus had personally called had gone over to the Dark Side.
What will be the damage? What other sinister plans did Satan have? Would Jesus’ ministry crash and burn? What would happen to all who had followed Him?
Jesus’ glorification and command to display His love (Jn 13:31-38)
Although Satan had been successful in turning one of Jesus’ disciples, we note that Jesus was not caught by surprise. He knew exactly what would take place and had even given Judas permission to proceed with the betrayal in John 13:27.
Therefore, we must never think that Jesus was forced into a corner or powerless against Satan. Jesus did not surrender. Jesus sovereignly demonstrated his authority to lay down His life for us (Jn 10:18). Further, Judas’ betrayal was all part of God’s great plan of redemption. Ever since Adam’s first transgression, God had promised to send a Son of Eve to battle the serpent. Though the serpent will bite, its head shall be crushed.
Hence the betrayal of Jesus did not end in His defeat but rather led to His ultimate victory over sin and death. This is why the first thing Jesus says after Judas leaves is “Now is the Son of Man glorified”.
Jesus uses the word “now” to emphasize the linkage between Judas’ betrayal and His glorification. Although most of us link setbacks with defeat, the gospel shows God’s power of achieving victory through trials. It is through Jesus’ suffering and death that He will be glorified. This means that Jesus will be vindicated. Although the uninformed might conclude from Judas’ betrayal that Jesus’ ministry had failed, the record will be set straight. Jesus will be exalted. He will be greatly honored.
At a National Day Parade, much fanfare goes into honoring out President. Everyone stands and the entire parade offers the grandest salute. But the glory Jesus receives will be so much greater.
By referring to Himself as the Son of Man, Jesus signals that He is the glorious one spoken of in Daniel 7:14. Jesus is the prophesied Son of Man who will receive universal and everlasting authority, glory, and sovereign power. Jesus will be crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Jesus’ glorification is all but certain. Look at John 13:32. Because God the Father will be glorified through Jesus, He is committed to glorifying His Son. God will act to glorify Jesus in one decisive point in history. This is why God allowed Jesus to be betrayed, arrested, tried unjustly and crucified on a wooden cross. For at the cross, the Son of Man was lifted high. God glorified Jesus for embodying perfect obedience and succeeding where the first Adam had failed.
And through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, the Father’s justice and love were perfectly shown. The Father was glorified for preserving His holiness and pouring out the wrath that our sins have incurred. And simultaneously, the Father was glorified for His abundant love in providing a Saviour to bear our punishment.
Further God did not abandon Jesus to Hades, nor allow His flesh to see corruption (Acts 2:31). The Father was fully committed to glorifying Jesus and giving Him all authority, glory and power. Therefore, three days after His sacrificial death, God raised Jesus from the dead and the risen Christ ascended into heaven.
Philippians 2:9-11 declares that: “God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
We see in Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension that God had indeed glorified Jesus at once — at one earth-shattering event. Therefore, we can take much comfort in knowing that Satan’s attack did not lead to defeat for Jesus. Although Judas’ betrayal brought Jesus much agony, it set in motion Jesus’ glorification.
There is no sugar coating the pain and agony of trials that we go through for being a faithful Christian. But we can find comfort and hope in knowing that Jesus is greater than Satan.
Jesus will only permit that which will bring Him glory.
Jesus is not just fully man, but also fully God. He is the second person of the Trinity who knows all things and reigns over this universe. Jesus demonstrated through the control of His own life that He is in full control of our life and circumstance. Jesus will only permit that which will bring Him glory. Jesus will only allow us to endure what is ultimately for our good.
So, will you put your hope in Jesus who has shown us His power over Satan? Will you trust the One who has been glorified by the Father?
Jesus knows the weight you are bearing and He invites you to find rest in Him. Jesus will not disappoint. Cast your anxieties upon Him and He will give you peace. Believe in Jesus and experience His salvation and redemption today.
In John 13:34-35 we learn that Jesus’ imminent death will not only lead to His glorification but also to the creation of a new community. Jesus says in John 13:34-35, “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.”
At first glance, we might wonder what is so new about this command? After all in the Old Testament there are several exhortations to love. But the difference lies in the new standard and fuel of love and the new order that it exemplifies.
Firstly, Jesus makes clear that He is the new standard and fuel by which we are to love. It is His love that should compel and enable us to love others.
Secondly, there is a new purpose attached to the command. Love for one another reveals that we are Jesus’ disciples
Let us unpack these two truths. Firstly, Jesus’ love is the standard and fuel for our love. Sometimes our boss might give us an impossible task. We might be asked to do something that we have not received any training in or lack the resources to pull off what is being asked. But here, Jesus adequately equips and enables us to carry out His command. The love we are to show one another is not meant to be manufactured by us. Rather it is to flow from the love we have received from Jesus.
And according to John 15:13, the love we have received from Jesus is the greatest love ever known. Jesus loved us not by giving us gifts or taking us on a dream holiday. Rather, Jesus loved us by laying down His life for us. Because God is holy, our refusal to worship and obey His commands has kindled His wrath. We are under judgment and sentenced to death. But Jesus, came down from heaven, took our sins upon Himself and went to the cross on our behalf. Jesus displayed the greatest act of love by taking away our guilt and shame at the cost of His own life. His love is incomparable.
Peter tried to display love by declaring in John 13:37 that he will lay down his life for Jesus. But the sad truth is how flimsy human love is. Jesus says in John 13:38 that by the time the rooster crows, Peter would have failed in his attempt to love Jesus. Instead of laying down his life for Jesus, Peter will deny he ever knew Jesus.
As we contrast the love that Peter attempted to show and the love that Jesus demonstrates, we see the qualitative difference. Jesus’ love is unparalleled. He did not just pay lip service. Jesus sovereignly allowed Judas to betray him to the Jewish authorities. He remained silent as the crowds slandered him. Jesus acted like a sheep being led to the slaughter because His love towards us is real and great. Jesus knew that unless He dies in our place we will remain under condemnation. Hence, He voluntarily gave up His life for our sake.
As the hymn writer, William Rees, put it:
Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Loving-kindness as the flood;
When the Prince of Life, my ransom,
Shed for me his precious blood.
Jesus’ love for us also extends beyond atoning for our sins. Instead of demanding things from His people, Jesus starts from a posture of servanthood.
Earlier in John 13, Jesus lowered Himself to wash the feet of his disciples. Instead of demanding things from us, Jesus showers us with His love and shares His joy with us even before we have done anything for Him.
Jesus’ love is also not limited to one event of salvation but everlasting.
Jesus’ love is also not limited to one event of salvation but everlasting. That is why He has gone to prepare a place for us in His father’s house. He does not just want to see us alive but living with Him for eternity.
Jesus knows our every need, and He has given us the Holy Spirit to be our divine helper.
Friends, have you grasped the depth and breadth of Jesus’ love? May the Lord give us the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth of Jesus’ love that we may be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph 3:18) and be enabled to love others.
Secondly, love for one another reveals that we are Jesus’ disciples. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He exhorted all Christians to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. But how are Christians supposed to tell unbelievers about Jesus? Bear in mind that the early Christians faced persecution from pagan family and neighbours. Rome viewed Christianity as a cult, and Christians were not welcomed to openly share their faith.
Jesus tells us in John 13:35 that love for one another is the means by which people will know at we are His disciples. In other words, Christians will be an effective witness by the love we show one another.
Now it is important that we unpack who Jesus refers to when he says “one another.” Whilst Christians are to show God’s love to everyone, including our neighbours and even those who persecute us, Jesus places an emphasis on Christians loving other believers. For it is when followers of Jesus love one another that all people will know that we belong to Him.
So friends, as we consider Jesus’ command to love one another, consider your fellow members at Grace Baptist Church. Jesus is not saying that we are to only love members of GBC. But He is saying that we must love one another. For people will know that we are Christians by the love we have for one another in this church.
Some of us may have been offended in the past by other church members and some of us might find others too different. But let us not forget that we too have offended God. Yet God loved us by sending His beloved Son. Jesus laid down His life for us while we were His enemies. Jesus did not shun us while we were dressed in dirty rags. He has clothed us with His righteousness and welcomed us into His family. He has lavished us with every spiritual blessing.
So let us not treat people the way they deserve, but treat people the way God has treated us. Let us love because He first loved.
Further, 1 John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Because we have experienced Jesus’ love, we can love one another, even those who are different from us, and even those who may have disappointed us.
So practically speaking, what does loving one another look like?
Let me give 3 tangible ways that we can love as Jesus loved.
Firstly, reach out to people. When we look at Jesus’ earthly ministry, we will note many instances where He took notice of people and pursued them. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector who wanted to meet Jesus. But because he was short, he could not see over the crowd. And so, he climbed up a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus as he went by. Amazingly, Jesus stops to look up at Zacchaeus and tells him that he will stay at his place. The crowds are stunned because Zacchaeus was not well liked and they sought to keep a distance from him. Jesus, however, demonstrates such love in noticing Zacchaeus amidst the crowd and desiring to fellowship with him.
Friends, do you realize that Jesus has also loved us the way that He loved Zacchaeus? Even though there are 8 billion people alive today, Jesus knows us by name and He took the initiative to reach out. Jesus revealed Himself to us and invited us to fellowship with Him.
Therefore, we too can reflect His love by noticing those who are alone or in need. Like Jesus, let us take the initiative to fellowship with others and minister to them. After service try speaking to someone you have not met before.
Secondly, be hospitable. Many of us can identify with Jesus’ desire to withdraw and rest after a long day. Mark 6:31 tells us that Jesus was so busy ministering to people that He did not even have a chance to eat. And so, He boards a boat with His disciples to withdraw to a solitary place.
But lo and behold a large crowd was waiting for Jesus’s boat to land. Although He could have told His disciples to reverse and find another landing, Jesus has compassion and ministers to them. Not only did Jesus teach them, but He even fed them.
Jesus embodied hospitality by welcoming people even though He desired rest. Jesus showed hospitality when he considered the welfare of others. Instead of following the practical advice of His disciples to disperse the crowds and let them settle their own dinner, Jesus graciously provided a meal for over 5000 men.
Friends, we too experience Jesus’ hospitality on a daily basis. He invites us to enjoy His presence and cast our burdens upon Him at all times of the day. There never has been a time when Jesus has turned us away. Further, Jesus is so gracious towards us, providing us with what we need, and blessing us with things we have not expected.
So let us reflect Jesus’ love by welcoming those who approach us for companionship or help. Let us make ourselves available and offer a listening ear. Remember how a friendly greeting, a fresh cup of coffee or a volunteer taking care of your child during service played a part in deciding to return? Similarly come to church not expecting to be served but how you can be a blessing to someone else. Consider the preferences and needs of others. Go the extra mile in making others feel welcomed and loved in church and in our homes. Your hospitality reflects Jesus’ love.
Thirdly, be forgiving. In any family, disagreements and conflicts will arise. But what keeps everyone together at the end of the day is love that leads to repentance and forgiveness. This is at the heart of the love that Jesus has shown us. Even though we have at times denied Jesus or forsaken His commands, Jesus graciously forgives us. Therefore, the solution to overcoming our reluctance to forgive others is to meditate on the forgiveness we have received. Jesus paid our debt that we could never repay.
Jesus loved us while we were unlovable and hence, we can love others before they do good to us. This is why one of the most powerful signs of love among Christians is the ability to forgive one another as God in Christ has forgiven us. So let us love by seeking forgiveness when we wrong someone and let us love by being quick to forgive.
These 3 examples are not exhaustive, and I encourage you to consider with your CG other ways that we can love as Jesus loved.
Our sermon text started out on a sombre note with Judas’ betrayal. But Satan is no match for God. Jesus alone has the authority to lay down His life and the authority to pick it up again. Judas’ betrayal only set in motion the events leading to Jesus’ glorification and demonstration of love.
At the cross Jesus redeemed a people for Himself and showed us the love that we are to show one another. Whilst praying before we eat, wearing a cross or posting a Bible verse on our social media account may give people the impression that we are Christians, a surer way of communicating Christ is to love one another as He has loved. So let us not see love for one another as optional but as a commandment from our Lord.
May we glorify God and show Christ by loving one another as Jesus loved. Let us pray.