|
|
|
|
The Gospel of John, The Period of Conference, Conference With the Disciples, Part XV, John 13:35,36 - Lesson 123
Read Verses John 13:33,34, for review: 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.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
This is how all men will know that you are my disciples.
This is how all men will know that you follow my teachings.
Get this now!
This is the instruction of Jesus Christ of whom we are to be imitators, as a student would be an imitator of their teacher.
Listen to the instruction of Jesus Christ whom we are to worship and adore!
Love for one another is the true way that all men know that we are the disciples of Jesus Christ.
Not by our church name, not by knowledge, not by our appearance, not by a cross around our neck or in our lapel, not by a bumper sticker, not by the hymns or types of music we sing, not by our rituals or traditions, not by our soul wining zeal, or our zealousness not by our separation, not by our affiliations, not even by our doctrine, or our faithfulness to a particular church, or school but by our love for all those who love the Lord.
You want to wear a badge showing yourself a disciple of Christ?
Then wear the badge of love for one another.
For love is the only true badge given to reveal Christian discipleship to men!
How important it is to love one another as Christ loves us!
It is the highest of standards to strive for, to love as Christ loves.
Love as evidenced by sacrifice of self on behalf of brothers and sisters in Christ
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Are we interested in having a testimony before men of following the teachings of Christ?
That which best testifies of our following Christ is our love for one another.
John 13:36a Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus Christ had said: Whither I go, ye cannot come.
The important teaching of Jesus Christ to love one another is not pondered by Peter.
His impetuous nature comes out instead with the question, Lord, whither goest thou?
It is so common of human nature to ponder questions not answered by God and give no thought to the answers that God does give.
We speculate and are curious about the things God tells us not and leave off obedience to the things the God tells us.
The disciples were flesh, bone and blood and they had not grasped the fact that their Master was about to leave them in death.
Their preconceptions did not allow for this to take place.
Regardless of how many times Jesus Christ had told them that he would die it had not gotten through to them.
They did not want to believe this so they did not believe it.
John 13:36b, Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
Peter, I go to my Father.
You have a job to do and you must stay.
I will be with you and never forsake you but it is not for you to come to the Father now but afterwards you shall follow me.
This is the instruction to all disciples of Christ.
Where I am there will you be also!
This is the glorious goal of Christ's own, to be with him, where he is.
But first things first.
Servant hood is required of all.
All of his own have work to do before we may follow him afterwards.
Look at the work Peter did for the Lord before he joined him in heaven.
What a blessing to all are the letters that Peter wrote to Christians through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Peter, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
We may be saved but God has work for us to do just as he had work for Peter to do. |