2017.06.11 John
13: 21-38
Having loved His own…
Part 3
Good Morning…. I am glad to be with you this morning… I
have Good News for You! His name is
Jesus… We are on a great adventure… We are Experiencing the Life and ministry of Jesus…
Jesus
continues to Transform hearts and minds… by the Power of His Holy Spirit
working in and through the Word of God…
Once
again this morning we
are studying the Gospel of John… look with me at John 13… beginning at v17…
John
13: 17-20 NKJV
17
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
18
“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the
Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel
against Me.’ 19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass,
you may believe that I am He. 20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives
whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
v17…
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them… Jesus has
washed the disciples feet… It is a powerful example of loving servant leadership… Jesus
is saying… I have set this example for you to follow… Love and serve each
other…. Do not be proud and stubborn…
v18b… He
who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me… Jesus is quoting
Psalm 41... look at v19…
v19…
"'Now I tell you it before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you
may believe that I am He. Jesus knew who would betray Him… The
disciples are going to freak out when Judas betrays Him… But Jesus is steadfast
and not at all surprised… It is all part
of God´s sovereign plan… He quotes this scripture to show them, That He is in control of this
whole event… Now it is time… This is the
plan…
v20…
he who receives, whomever I send, receives me…
Jesus
is sending them to complete the work that He
has begun… And they will take the Good news of the Gospel to the ends of the earth…
John
13: 21-23 NKJV slt 2000
21
When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and
said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 Then the
disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. 23 Now there
was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
v21…
I say to you, one of you will betray me…
The disciples were now receiving another shock…. One of
them would betray Jesus...? Impossible to imagine… But there was more… Jesus knew that Peter was going to deny him… He predicted it to his face… But even though
he had been warned… When to time came Peter denied Jesus… three times… Did
Jesus know that Judas was going to betray him…? Yes, he did because He knows everything… He is
the Living Word of God… And Jesus often spoke directly to their unspoken
thoughts and intentions…
Jesus Knew every event that was going to happen… He knew
who will betray and deny him… But that knowlege did not soften the impact of
the events… v21… says his heart was
troubled… It's a strong word in the Greek… [?
Torosso ?]… It means to be agitated
deeply…
So even though He knew… It bothered him… As God in Human
flesh…. Jesus knew pain and sadness just like us… He relates to our pain and sadness and
temptations… This makes Him our perfect
High Priest… Hebrews ch 5 and ch 7… Jesus knew who the betrayer was… The disciples
wanted to know… According to Matt24… They asked one by one… Is it I Lord… Judas had fooled them
all… Peter wants to know…
v23…"there
was leaning on Jesus' bosom, one of his disciples whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter
therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom he spoke." Now
the disciple Jesus loved is John… the writer of the gospel… John is leaning on Jesus… Peter
whispers to him… Find out who it is… V24-30…
John
13: 24-30 NKJV slt 2000
24
Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. 25
Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”26 Jesus
answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped
it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of
Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to
him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the table knew for what reason
He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that
Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he
should give something to the poor. 30 Having received the piece of bread, he
then went out immediately. And it was night.
It was tradition for the Host to give a morsel of bread
dipped in Hummus or whatever it was to the guests… Jesus used it to identify
Judas as the rat… The betrayer… Now John and Peter know that Judas is the
betrayer… But the rest of the disciples still had no clue… Even when Judas gets
up and leaves… They do not suspect anything wrong… They just thought that he
was doing his duty… Immediately He went
out… Satan had entered His heart… Look at the last part of v30… And it was night… I think that is
significant in this text… Because in John's
Gospel… light and darkness are often used symbolically by John… Judas´ heart
was now totally black… next section… v31-35…
John
13: 31-35 NKJV
slt 2000
31
So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God
is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him
in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. 33 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. 34 A new commandment I give
to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one
another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love
for one another.”
v31…
And when he had gone out, Jesus said, "'now the Son of Man is glorified… And God is glorified in him,' Jesus is speaking
of the cross… It is the Divine and perfect plan of redemption… They are both
receiving Glory in this miracle of redemption… And God will glorify him
immediately…
v33…
Little children, I shall be with you a little longer. You will seek me. As I
said to the Jews, where I am going you cannot come… Here
is another shock for the disciples… They still do not quite understand that in
just hours now they will be Temporarily
separated from the Lord because of the cross… And while they are trying to
process this… He calls them to a higher deeper love for each other…v34,35…
v34,35… And 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.'"
The greek word Jesus
used for new here can be translated renewed… It means fresh… Jesus
took a commandment they were very familiar with… He says… I am giving you a
refreshed more alive commandment… Now
there's a new standard of love… Love people like I love Them… Like I have loved
you…
Love in humility and in gentleness… Love without expecting something in return… Unconditionally… This
is the way I have loved you…. You do the same… Demonstrate my love to this lost and dying world… You saw me serve…
you serve…
Well,
how did Jesus love? Sacrificially… Unconditionally…
I imagine that almost all of us know verse 35... By this, by our
love, all men will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one
another… We are to be known by our
love… We are to be marked by our love… And I think that’s true of genuine Christians… This is really critical…
Jesus
says… I'm giving you a renewed commandment… Love others as I
have loved you… God´s Love flowing through us to a lost and
dying world… Jesus is saying this is the sign that you belong to me… God´s love in us… It flows out of a
forgiven and thankful heart… A heart that has been transformed… What marks
a true believer is this transformed
heart… A Genuine believer has been born again… Translated out of the kingdom of sin and
darkness into the Kingdom of God´s dear
Son… Transformed from the inside…
And if we ask the question… What identifies that transformation? Then we’re getting to the evidence of who is
a true believer… Genuine believers are known by our character… by our love of the things of God… In a word… we are known by our love... Last week was Pentecost… The Holy Spirit is at work in us day by day… Maybe the
simplest explanation of how to identify a Christian comes from the Holy
Spirit´s work in us… Look with me at Galatians 5: 23-26….
Galatians
5: 22-26 NKJV slt 2000
22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no
law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions
and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Paul describes the Fruit
of the Spirit here…
v22… But the fruit of the Spirit is love… This
is the evidence of the Spirit’s presence
in our lives… Proof of our
transformation and conversion… This is
exactly what we see In God´s promise
in Ezekiel ch 36: 25-27… And here
Paul says… The fruit of the Spirit is
love… And out of that love
flows joy… peace… gentleness… long suffering… self-control… These all flow out of God´s love working in us in us…. And flowing out of us to others…
It is our love that supports and motivates all those other things… Jesus told Judas to go and finish the
betrayal… And he did... Jesus is now
with the true disciples… And the
first thing He does is have a deep and important conversation with them… He
speaks directly to the evidence and reality of their salvation…
Remember all of this flows out of John ch 13 verse 1… That is where we began
this chapter… verse 1 says… He
loved them eis telos… to the limit… to the fullness of divine capacity…
God´s
Love is a love that knows no limits… He loved His own who were in the world as
much as it was possible for the Eternal
God to love... His love is
unfailing… This chapter is one of the
most wonderful… unconditional and limitless statements about His love in all of Scripture...
This O.T. commandment to Love God… Was now made stronger
than in the law… Because they had seen an example of it that was new… Love
had come to another level with Jesus…
The Son of God washing feet took love to another level… And now… Jesus
is offering His life as sacrifice for
sin… and that is love at the ultimate… Later this very night… As Jesus talks about the need to Abide in
His Love… He will repeat this
renewed Higher commandment… And He will say… Greater love has no man than this…. That He
lay down His life for His friends… John 15: 13…
Listen If we are going to help each other do life… If we
are going to wash each others feet… We
must do it gently… After all… We all sin… We all go through hard times… We have
fears and doubts... we need to counsel and pray each other… We are called to
help each other… To provoke one another to love and good works… Hebrews 10: 23-25…
What characterizes our Lord´s interactions with His
disciples on this final night before the cross… is His love…
Everything that Jesus
expects from us… And all of His promises to us…. Everything flows from Divine
love… From the Father and from the Son…
Love at work… In us and through us by the Promised
Holy Spirit…
John summed it up in his epistle… We
love Him because He first loved us… 1 John 4:19… Amen and amen… back to
John 13… look at the last section v36-38…
John
13: 36-38
NKJV slt 2000
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 shall follow Me afterward.” 37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not
follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” 38 Jesus answered him,
“Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the
rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.v36… "Simon
Peter said to him, 'Lord, where are you going?' Jesus said, 'where I am going
you cannot follow me now. But you will follow me afterward.'
The disciples were very upset to hear Jesus saying that
he is being betrayed…. Now He says
that He is going away… They are afraid of what will happen to them
when He is gone… They still hope that He will establish His Eternal Kingdom… This
is a very difficult night for them…. And soon it will get a lot more difficult
in the Garden of Gethsemane… Peter says… 'Lord,
why can I not follow you now?'" This is Peter... Jesus says you cannot
follow me now…. Peter says why not…? He seems to be coming to grips with Jesus going to the cross and he thinks
that he is strong enough to fight for Him…
v37…
Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life
for Your sake.” Peter says… I am with you Lord to the end…
v38…
Jesus answered, 'will you lay down your life for my sake? Most assuredly, I say
to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied me three times.'"
Jesus knew Peter was going to fail him… He was not
shocked by Peter´s weaknesses… And He is not shocked by our weaknesses and failures
either… He knows that like Peter… We will also be restored… Our sin and failures draw to the Throne of grace… We ask
the Lord to forgive us…. And He does… The Love of Jesus is demonstrated in His
continuing grace in our lives… As far as Peter
is concerned… We have a bit more detail… In Luke's gospel… Look with me at Luke 22 v31-34…
Luke
22: 31-34 NKJV
slt 2000
31
And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may
sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not
fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he
said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34
Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before
you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Here we see Jesus interceding
for Peter… Just as He intercedes for
us to this day… Peter declares that He is strong… And that he will go with Him
to prison and death… And we know that after he repents… He serves the Lord for
the rest of His life… He boldly stood up in the temple and Gave that first
Incredible sermon on the day of Pentecost… Acts 2: 22…
His fear of man
was completely gone… He said you killed Him…. But God raised Him from the dead…
And thousands were saved that day… And
according to historical sources… Many years later… He did go to prison and he
was martyred for the name of Jesus… As genuine believers… We are commanded to
love others like The Lord Jesus Christ loved us… And we can do it…
How
do I know this? Because Romans 5 says that God has poured out his love in our
hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given… Look
with me at Romans 5: 1-5…
Romans
5:1-5 NKJV slt 2000
1 Therefore,
having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we
stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we
also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4
and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not
disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy
Spirit who was given to us.
I want us to notice the connections between Faith and Grace and the Glory of God…
It produces Hope and the Glory of God… And we discover the wonderful ability to
glory in our tribulations… Even in our sufferings we can Praise the Lord… We
know that God is using them to continue the process of transforming us in the
very image of Jesus… Loving and serving people… That means… when we run out of
love and patience for the people in our lives… The Holy Spirit is ready to pour
in more of God´s love… And with that Godly love…. We receive all of the Fruits
of the Spirit… This means that as
genuine believers… We can share the love of Jesus with a lost and dying world… It
means that we can love and care for our friends and families just like Jesus
does… Unconditional… Unfailing love…
It seems impossible…. But We can love and serve just like Jesus… Because He is at work in us…
We can love and serve others Even when I
don't feel like it… We do it anyway…
With His Eternal Resources…. We can display the fruit of the Spirit… Loving and
caring for all the people that the Lord puts in our lives… And watch how transforming it becomes for you
and me… And this kind of Love will transform this Church and this community.. .
That's the renewed Higher commandment… love like I have loved you… Loving to the max
of Jesus´ unfailing abitlity… Let´s pray…
