All four of the Gospels have recorded events of Jesus’ meeting with his disciples at the Passover meal. Also, in all four gospels Judas’ betrayal is mentioned and Peter’s denial. However, in John’s gospel we learn about Jesus’ love for his disciples in these events. Moreover, Jesus commanded his disciples love one another as he loved them.

Today we may think about the Jesus’ command to love one another.

 

  First, Jesus predicts Judas’ betrayal (18-30). Look at 18. After Jesus had washed the disciples feet, he said to his disciples, “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me” (18). Jesus predicted his betrayal. The betrayal would come as a matter of fulfillment of Scriptures and would be someone from the Twelve.  Jesus had spoken to the disciples earlier in the gospels about a betrayer among them. On one occasion he referred to one of the disciples as a devil (Jn 6:70, 71). When the disciples were on their way to Jerusalem, Jesus spoke of his betrayal to his disciples that would lead to his eventual suffering (Mt 17:22; Mt 20:18; Mk 10:33). The betrayer, who was Judas, was undoubtedly on Jesus mind for a long time.

 

  Jesus made a reference to Psalm 41:9 “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” God knew what would happen. Judas would be the one who would betray his Lord and Teacher. Since Judas was one of the Twelve, he had the very special privilege of knowing Jesus on a personal level over a period of three years. Once Jesus sent the Twelve on a short term mission journey giving them power and authority to drive out demons and cure diseases. Judas participated in the preaching and healing ministry (Lk 9:1-9). Can you imagine the prayers and word of God that he received from Jesus? Judas’ betrayal was an evil act. However God would use it in his salvation plan.

 

  Jesus knew that there was a danger to the disciples once they found that Jesus was betrayed. The danger was that they could lose their faith and doubt the work of God in Jesus. Jesus said, “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He” (19). The disciples could remember later that Jesus explained to them that the betrayal would take place. Since Jesus told him in advance they would believe that Jesus was who he said he was. Jesus was their Lord and Christ. Therefore, the disciples would recognize that the word of God is infallible whether spoken by Jesus himself or prophesied by David centuries before. The future of God’s servants and his people will continue on (20). Jesus, the “Son of Man will go just as it was written about him.” Nothing will change the course of God’s plan of Salvation in Jesus Christ.

 

  Look at verse 21. It says, “After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.” Here we see that Jesus is in anguish. He is very troubled because he loves Judas and Judas would suffer eternally because of the betrayal. Moreover, the other disciples would also become greatly hurt. The other disciples stared at each other and were at a loss to know which one it was (22). They had no idea that it would be Judas. They never would suspect him of any wrong doing. What this really meant was they didn’t understand each others real spiritual condition.

 

  John happened to be reclining next to Jesus. So Peter motioned to John to find out who the betrayer was. John leaned back against Jesus and asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “’It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon’” (25, 26).  Jesus offered of a piece of bread in this way because it was honorable recognition for the person receiving the bread, Judas. Today we may offer a toast to some whom we have a kind regard for. Jesus’ offer was one of friendship to win him over. Jesus made it very clear at this point that he knew that Judas was planning to be the betrayer.  Now Jesus offers Judas a way out. He appealed to the conscience of Judas giving him a clear opportunity to repent and abandon the dreadful course of action.

 

  Look at verse 27. “As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.  ‘What you are about to do, do quickly,’ Jesus told him.” Judas accepted the bread but refused Jesus’ offer. His heart hardened and now Satan entered him. The disciples did not know why Jesus said this to him and thought Jesus was sending him out on an errand (28,29). In verse 30 it says, “As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.” Judas was on his way to meet the chief priests. There he would receive thirty silver coins. Judas would then watch for an opportunity to hand Jesus over (Mt 26:14-16). After realizing that he had betrayed innocent blood he went away and hung himself (Mt 27:3-5).

 

  Judas was chosen to be an Apostle, an offer which he accepted. It is clear that Jesus really loved him. Jesus exposed Judas to help him repent. But Judas remained frustrated by his greed and dishonesty (1Ti 6:10). This issue was never resolved and drove him further from Jesus and his disciples. He never put his faith in Christ. He never understood that in Christ he could be a freed man. Judas life ended tragically, but Jesus uses this event to plant faith and hope in the work of God.

 

  Second, Jesus gives a new command (31-35). Judas left. He was heading down a road from which he would not return. There was no road back from the commitment that he made. Then Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him,God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once (31, 32). With Judas “gone” Jesus was now certain that he would suffer many things, be rejected by the Jewish leaders and finally crucified. This was the immediate consequence of Judas leaving. But amazingly, Jesus saw beyond all of this. He saw the Son of Man in glory and that God was glorified in him. How was this? The gospel of Jesus was now being completed. Jesus died, was buried and then raised to life. Through this, Jesus conquered sin and death and was glorified and God was glorified in him.  

 

  Look at verse 33. ”My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. Jesus really loved them. This was the turning point in their relationship and they could not be together at this time. He would have to leave them for now and they would have to face the fear and doubts of the next several days on their own. By the good graces of God they would become men of faith.

 

  Then Jesus gave them a new command. He said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” The disciples had spent much time learning to love Jesus and learning to love God. Practically, they did learn to love Jesus since they followed him, leaving their families and their jobs behind. For three years they loved Jesus and received love from Jesus. Now Jesus command to them is to love one another. In other words, their love had been directed in a vertical direction but now Jesus commands them to love in the horizontal direction towards each other. According to Luke’s gospel during the meal a “dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be the greatest” (Lk 22:24). They had a competitive spirit to be better than the other. No doubt at this time it was challenging for them to “love one another.” However, the disciples experienced Jesus’ love through common life with Jesus. Because of this, they understood the love of God through Jesus and they knew the Jesus was their Christ.

 

  Jesus said, “A new command I give you.” The command to love is not new. It if found throughout the Bible. Once someone asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments (Mt 22:37-40). Jesus was able to summarize the greatest commandments based on Deuteronomy 5:6 and Leviticus 19:18. They had to do with loving God, who expects worship and devotion and a generally high moral conduct of his people. God’s expectation also should be reflected in how we treat our neighbors in love. However, the new command is a new standard of conduct for Jesus’ disciples. The new standard of love is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. As Jesus loves us, we know how to love others.  

 

  Apostle John reflected a great deal about this command of Jesus throughout the Book of 1John. There are several direct references to Jesus’ command in this book. For example, from 1John 3:16, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” The key words are “how we know.” We need to know Jesus’ love who laid down his life for us. When we know his love we are able to obey his command to love one another.

 

  We know Jesus’ love for us because he laid down his life on the cross for our sins. Jesus laid his life down as the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29). What could possibly compel Jesus do this for people who are sinners? Why would Jesus lay his life down on the cross for people who are ungodly and suppress the truth? It is God’s love. It is God’s love in Jesus Christ that his Son could obey him and die for a sinful and ungodly world. In the love of God his Father, Jesus gave his life that others may be born anew to share in the life that he shares with his Father in heaven. The power of love given through Jesus who laid down his life, came into this world and invited all people to believe in the name of Jesus. We know Jesus’ love because no longer do we live in fear of death. No longer are we so entangled in sin that we despair and have no hope for our complete salvation. The love of Jesus pushes this darkness of sin away so that we can live in his light of love. We live as freed people in Christ. We rejoice in the truth that Jesus loved each one of us and put new life in to our souls. Let us remember, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1Jn 4:6). In this way we know Jesus’ deep love for each one of us.

 

  Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Jesus gave this command specifically so that his disciples would learn to love each other. We may know the grace of Jesus’ love but we may feel clumsy or even that we lack the ability to love others. Practically speaking, how may we love one another as Jesus has loved us? How may we lay our lives down for our brothers? Jesus had common life with his disciples for three years. Perhaps most were young men and needed to mature. They argued with each other about who would be the greatest (Mk 9:34). Peter was thoughtless at times and Jesus had to rebuke him (Mk 8:33). John and James made bold and unreasonable request of Jesus (Mk 10:37). Some the disciples were quiet and some were very loud. The disciples asked Jesus question that grew into timeless teachings of Christ (Jn 14:5). However, Jesus loved them and was personally involved in their lives to guide them to personal faith and growth as leaders.

 

  Apostle Paul has characterized the necessity and power of love in building relationships with others. 1 Corinthians 134-8a says: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” These are the very characteristics of Jesus’ nature. Behind each one of them is the love of God.

 

  The body of Christ grows when its members obey this command of Jesus to love one another. We have common life together that our day to day needs may be met. We co-work for our various ministry programs; we have fellowship and grow as shepherds. Jesus’ command to love one another has much wisdom and practical benefit.

 

  Jesus said in verse 35, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” The impact when Jesus’ disciples obey the command to love one another is that the outside world cannot help but notice. The world is a love starved place. Naturally, when it sees the genuine, unselfish love that Jesus’ disciples have for each other its attention is drawn to it. The love found among believers is unique and can attract sinners in to the fellowship of Christ. But for the community of believers we continually grow in an eternal love relationship with each other and with our Savior and Lord Jesus.

 

  Third, Jesus predicts Peter’s denial (36-38).  Look at verse 36. It says, “Simon Peter asked him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’” Earlier in verse 33 when Jesus said, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I believe Peter was bothered greatly and was puzzled when he heard that he would not be able to be with Jesus. He could not bear the thought that Jesus was going somewhere without him. Consequently, Peter could not wait for Jesus to finish talking about the new command so he could ask Jesus where he was going. But graciously Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later” (36a). What Jesus had to do now he had to do alone. It was Jesus’ work alone as the Son of Man. But in time, after Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples would rejoin him again.  

 

  Peter was persistent. He asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you” (37).  Peter’s problem was that he was self-confident. He was depended on himself to work with Jesus. This attitude is the making of real problems. Jesus loved him and said, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” Jesus told Peter the truth.  Peter swore that he could lay his life down for Jesus. Jesus knew that he could not. Later on, Peter did in fact fail to keep his promise and so denied Jesus three times as Jesus said he would (Jn 18:15-27). At the third time the rooster crowed and Peter did remember Jesus’ words and he wept bitterly (Mt 26:75). Peter had hope of Jesus’ word, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” So later he was eventually restored as Jesus’ disciple and later served as an Apostle.

 

  In this passage we learn that Jesus loved his disciples. He loved them so much, he told them the truth. He knew exactly who they were. He knew what they would do. Judas and Peter in this passage needed to be guided and directed. Neither one of them listened and then they both failed. Although they were similar in these aspects, the out come of the two disciples was completely different. The real difference between them was that one received Jesus’ love and the other did not. Judas only hardened his heart the more Jesus loved him. Judas determined he could only take his own life when he understood the error of his ways. When Peter failed, he repented, remembering Jesus’ words and trusting Jesus’ love.

 

  May we thank God for Jesus who loved all of us laying his life down for us at the cross. Now Jesus commands his disciples that we love one another. In this way we build up the community of believers building eternal relationship with each other and Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

November 16, 2008. Toledo UBF