John 13:31-35 – The greatest example of love

When Judas left the upper room, there was a sense of relief. Isn’t this true of our experience too? We feel stifled and not at liberty to talk about the things we had always wanted to say, in the presence of someone whom we know dislike us. And when that person is gone, we feel the liberty to converse freely. With the departure of Judas, Jesus found the ease to talk about more serious matters. Jesus’ dialogue centered around three issues: His glorification, His departure and the new commandment to love.  

Although Jesus spoke about His death, He did not view it negatively. In fact He saw it as a moment of glorification. Why is His death a glorification? Firstly, His death would be history’s greatest act. It would be one that the whole humanity would be impacted and benefited. It would be the once-and-for-all event that would change the course of humanity. Secondly, it would reverse the effect of the curse brought about by the disobedience of Adam, the federal head of humanity. As the second Adam, Christ was obedient even unto death on the cross. He laid down His life for us and rose from the dead, and became the head of God’s new community. Thirdly, through death Christ disarmed all powers and principalities, and the devil who has the power of death. Fourthly, His death was the perfect ransom price, paid for mankind’s redemption. He did what none in the creative order could do. Finally, through His completed work on the cross, we now have a Mediator seated at the right hand of God. Our advocate with the Father who lives to make intercession for us. What a glory! At the cross, the power of God is clearly demonstrated, the justice of God swiftly met, the holiness of God evidently revealed, the faithfulness of God firmly stated and the love of God exceedingly communicated. As Christ sought to glorify God in His death, God would also glorify Christ by raising Him immediately from death, and seated Him at His right hand.

In verse 33, Jesus addressed the remaining disciples as His little children. He endeared Himself to them. He was about to go to the cross and be separated from them. And they would seek Him. But where He was going, He told them that He had to go alone. Jesus was not talking about going to eternity where the Father dwells. He was talking about the cross, which He must bear alone. Hence He told them that they could not go with Him there. But then He gave them a new commandment to love one another. Though Jesus called it a new commandment, it was in fact as old as the Law that Moses had given. What’s different in this new one is that Jesus had given a new object and a new measure. The object is “one another,” the new measure is “to love as He had loved”. No longer are we just to love our neighbors but we are to love one another. When we love one another like Jesus had loved us, we will demonstrate His love through a community that loves each another. When we reach out in forgiveness and reconciliation with those who have wronged us, we make visible the reality of the Gospel convincingly.

Like it or not, we know that people we trust will fail us at times. We need to know that the failures often happen when we least expect it. What should we do in those moments? Christ expects us to exercise patience, to show forgiveness and choose honor and dignity over aggression. We are not to seek revenge but reconciliation; we are to choose love instead of hate. When we do that, we become more like Jesus and show a little of the love He had demonstrated on the cross. Then others can see Jesus in and through us, His disciples, through this love.