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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conference, Conference With the Disciples, Part XIV, John 13:31-34 - Lesson 122
Read Verses John 13:23-27, for review: Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
John 13:31-32, Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
Psasm 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee:
Sinners shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous.
God's moral government is such that a Judas cannot continue to be among the righteous.
The fruit of his heart is about to be plucked as he leaves the presence of Jesus Christ.
But his departure allows Jesus Christ to open his mind to the remaining faithful disciples.
He says: Now is the Son of man glorified, as he focuses his attention on what is past and what is imminent.
He will soon be saying, It is finished as he hangs on the cross of Calvary.
By finishing what he came to do in obedience to the Father he knows that he is glorified.
He knows that he will be magnified and honored and worshipped, that is what glorified means.
He knows that by submitting himself to men in obedience to the Father that the Father is also glorified, that is, the Father will also be magnified and honored and worshipped because of what he is about to do.
This was Christ's mission, to bring glory to the Father.
Glory to the Father means the Father is being magnified, honored and worshipped.
This is the duty of all servants of God, to bring glory to their Father.
Christ's glorification because of his perfect life and sacrifice on the cross, was all done to bring glory to the Father.
Christ was glorified but it was all done for the purpose of glorifying the Father.
Christ is always the perfect servant and always the perfect servant example magnifying the one whom he serves!
John 13:33,34, Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
He calls them little children, literally meaning, darlings.
A term of affection to those he dearly loves.
The same tender appeal is used once by Paul in the book of Galatians and seven times by John, in I John.
But this is the only time this term of endearment is used by Jesus Christ and note that he waited until Judas, the betrayer, departed.
Jesus Christ was not careless in calling unbelievers his children so when Judas was gone he began to prepare his disciples for his imminent departure.
So Jesus Christ gives a new commandment because he is about to leave his little children.
They cannot come with him because they have a job to do.
He is about to complete his mission but the disciples are about to start their mission.
He knows that they know that he has loved them and that he loves them now.
He desires that this love be duplicated in their lives by the love that they have for each other.
This is the standard that he expects in their love for each other.
Disciples, just think of the love that I have for you and duplicate that love to each other.
You cannot come with me and continue to recieve my love in the same way you are used to receiving it so now I want you to have the same love that you receive from me, but now from each other.
What a standard to live by that our Master has directed! |