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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
July 10,2007; Jesus, Prince of Preachers and Premier Prophet (11 of 12)
Focus Text: John 13.31-35
Betrayal was at hand. Things were happening behind the scenes that even the most fertile imaginations would never have thought. Even the apostles who had been warned about the dangers that awaited Jesus in Jerusalem found what He had told them hard to believe. However so as to leave no doubt, He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you [the apostles], one of you will betray Me…” (John 13.21). These words caused quite a stir among His closest followers, so much so that they “… looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.” (John 13.22).
“So, when he [Judas Iscariot] 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.’” (John 13.31-35).
At the time Jesus gave this “new commandment” there was no way it could be properly appreciated. He did not merely tell His apostles that they ought to love one another, after all, there was surely already love among them. Rather, He gave them the measure of love by which the depth of their discipleship would be evaluated. Even the tenses of the verbs are in the present active and literally mean that they should “keep on loving” one another. Concerning the love of Christ, Albert Barnes in his commentary on this verse observed that it was “…strong, continued, unremitting, and he was now about to show his love for them in death.” And indeed He was. Such love the world had never known! Possibly only minutes later Jesus said of this commandment and the giving of Himself, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15.12-13).
The Old Testament had commanded love for one another (see Leviticus 19.18). But this commandment – this new commandment – was far and away more noble than any ever given. The “Gold Standard” had never been seen, but it was about to be revealed! How could we know completely and perfectly how to love; after all, without the example of Deity, we do not even know how to love ourselves! The bar is about to be raised to heights that could never have been obtained without the timeless and totally selfless example of Jesus Christ.
It was in response to this command that the apostles and early disciples remained true to the cause of Christ. Not one of the apostles save Judas turned away from Christ, and this in spite of dastardly threats, persecutions, and even death. John said it all when he wrote, “By this we know love, because He [Jesus] laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3.16).
Questions:
1. What was the New Commandment? How was it new?
2. How would Jesus demonstrate His supreme love? What did He say to cause us to know that His love was and is supreme (see John 15.12-13)?
3. How do we know how to love? THINK!!!
4. What measure of love did John say we ought to have one for another (for the brethren)?
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