A New Commandment | Sermon 11/12/2023

John 13:31-38

In the wake of Judas departing into the night to betray Jesus, He knows now will be the time the Son of Man is glorified. What brings Him the most shame is precisely what brings Him the most glory. Likewise, what He is about to endure will be bring great glory to the Father. God is glorious in many ways and without the problem of sin and a need of a Savior we would never see the glory of His grace. Jesus tenderly tells His disciples He is leaving soon and they can’t come with Him now. His work is almost finished, theirs is about to begin.

Now in the midst of all this consolation Jesus exhorts them with a “new commandment” to love one another as He has loved them. The Mosaic legislation has always been concerned with loving God and loving neighbor but the newness aspect of this is in the qualification Jesus added: “even as I have loved you.” The apostles and all of us Christians have now experienced the love of God in a colossal way. What we have received is so significant it necessitates a change in our love toward others. It becomes like the Messiah’s. We have an abundance of love and therefore we can freely give it. We look to the example of Christ on how to love. He loves with action. He loved with self-sacrifice. He loved in a way that had tangible results. And so should we.

This is such a significant thing that love will be the identifying marker of a follower of Christ. If one doesn’t love the Bride of Christ then you offend Him as a husband is offended if his wife is hated. Hatred and bitterness in the body of Christ are faith-destroying and self-polluting. The world looks upon Christian in-fighting and mocks, while the devil laughs. They will know we are Christians by this unique love.