The Gospel of John Lesson 53 (11-10-2013) John 13:36-8

The Gospel of John Lesson 53 (11-10-2013)

Lesson 53 – John 13:36-8

Jesus having given them a new commandment capable of keeping them in His absence tells them of His departure. Again, we read, that this departure from them was not permanent. However, as we have found out, His departure was indeed for an extended season. They would have to live in His absence as if He were present. This was only possible if they would apply the new commandment that they had been given by Him in v. 34 telling them to not only love, but to Love as He had…that was, as only God could. This was humanly impossible. But, as we saw in our last study, this new commandment was not given ale cart, but was packaged with the ability to perform it given with the Power of God to do it contained in it, given with the soon coming Holy Spirit.

Jesus now begins to build on this foundation of this new commandment, in essence telling them that He was indeed leaving them and that they would have to not only behave in His absence, but would have to treat each other right also, applying God’s love in the process. It is interesting to note that at this time even though some of these disciples would eventually take a more lead role in the Church, that He did not leave any one in charge during His absence. He would still be the Shepherd, even in His absence. The Holy Spirit would accomplish this in His absence. The Holy Spirit would fit their different personalities and gifts together as if it were one Body representing the Person of Christ. This would be a mystery that would be visible to the world and that would have no other explanation except that Christ Himself must in some way be alive and still present with them.

In v. 36 we see a very intimate moment. Jesus tells them that He is going away. Peter opens his heart wide, uncaring and unafraid of who is listening and looking at the moment, which is typical for Peter.  It is a tender moment even though the discussion eventually ends up in a rebuke. The first part of their discussion appears to be genuine, Peter not wanting to be separated from his Lord. In this Peter’s emotion is true, and, he is to be commended for it. His Lord is leaving, and he will miss Him. We find Peter verbally expressing what they all must have been feeling concerning Jesus’ statement of His departure. This was a very difficult moment for all of them. It is only natural for Peter and the others to want to go with Him.

However, as the discussion continues we see another trait of Peter’s expressed…pride. Peter was always talking and rarely if ever listening. In v. 36 Jesus answers Peter’s question giving him and the others a promise that they would eventually join Him later. However, as often is seen with Peter, this answer was not good enough for him. Instead of asking Jesus what He wanted him to do in His absence, Peter in essence tells Jesus that he has a better plan and that he cannot understand why he can’t go with Him right now.

It is apparent from Peter’s reply that Peter thought that the reason that Jesus would not let him go with Him at this time was that the task ahead was too big or difficult for Peter. Peter as yet did not understand the concept of the Lord seeing the ‘bigger picture’, so to speak, and, clearly was still in the mindset of advancement of the Kingdom using earthly means such as force and power. In this Peter saw himself as the obvious choice, or, in other words, ‘God’s man’ for the job. Peter will remain in this mindset until after the Cross.

Peter was not ready to truly ‘follow’ his Lord. His response to Jesus’ beginning to prepare him and the others for the task ahead was still one of dominance. It was a selfish and prideful response saying in essence that I am your man. The new commandment just given to him had gone right over the top of his head. Peter had not as yet bought into Jesus’ plan.

In reality Peter did not even know what Jesus’ plan was. Jesus had not fully revealed the plan to them as yet. He was just beginning to do that. However, it was obvious that Peter had a plan. His own plan of how this should go. We will see Jesus instruct and teach them the plan and strategy in the next few chapters, however, it was obvious from Peter’s response that Peter thought that he had it all already figured out and that Jesus could not accomplish this task without him.

Before we criticize Peter too quickly, however, it would be good for us to recognize and acknowledge that we are often found to be like Peter. This all too often is a common pattern and problem with Jesus’ followers. If we were more careful to listen and then follow God’s prompting in many of our endeavors we might be more fruitful. It is true much of the Church in our day is found sitting doing nothing so we must give Peter some credit. However, just as much potential damage can be done, accompanied with a lot of wasted effort and activity in acting and doing without knowing God’s plan or seeking His direction in a matter.

Peter’s response in v. 37 tells us that he thought that he knew the plan or at least had his own plan of how to make this work. He saw no need to just hang out doing menial tasks of what he considered to be of lesser importance and value.

The word that describes how Peter saw staying behind was ‘boring’. He wanted to be where he thought the action was. At this point he was not thinking Heaven. Jesus had not yet explained that to them. Peter was thinking and wanted to be a part of God establishing and setting up His Kingdom on earth. Peter thought, “That’s where the action is”. Staying behind was for someone of lesser ability and strength. What Peter did not realize at that time was that there would be plenty of action found in staying behind.

In looking at our position today in God’s plan we find ourselves in a similar mindset as was Peter in some ways. The common thought or desire is that we want to leave this place and go to ‘be with Jesus’. We think ‘that’s where the action is’. However, we couldn’t be more mistaken. Although Jesus is at work right now doing whatever He is doing (He is at work doing many things), the ‘action’ so to speak is right here on earth, right now, where we are.

To be sure God’s attention is on this place right now, and, He is very much at work right here in our world. I believe that there is no place right now that receives more of God’s attention and action and work in His creation than planet earth. Our preoccupation with Heaven, although it is eventually our Blessed Hope and promise, so often can distract us from our present task and mission on the earth here and now. These twelve men had task ahead of them and although they needed a hope for their ultimate future, which Jesus is about to share with them, they also needed to be focused on the task before them that was of critical important. In the next few chapters we will see Him ready them for the task at hand while also planting in their heart the hope of their ultimate destination when their work is done, that of being with Him in Heaven.

For the moment, Jesus is helping Peter with His perception of reality concerning himself. In v. 37 Peter’s perception of why Jesus would not let him go with Him was that he was not ready to commit to the difficulty that might ahead. Peter assuring Jesus that he is able and worthy of the task tells Jesus that he would be willing to lay down his life…if need be.

However, Jesus questions him on this, knowing the reality of Peter’s true and not perceived ability. Jesus knows in reality who we are and what we are capable of doing or not doing as the case may be. It is interesting that Jesus’ statement to Peter concerning his willingness to lay down his life is quite direct and clear. Jesus did not beat around the bush concerning this issue. Peter’s pride and his desire to be preeminent with respect to all the others would not only dramatically affect Peter’s ability to have an effective ministry, but it could also injure the Church at large. Personalities such as this often crush or discourage good collateral ministries in the process seeing themselves as the only possible option or answer. Jesus had big plans for Peter, but He could not realize them in him like this. Peter’s pride had to be dealt with. Jesus will continue to point this out to Peter in the remaining chapters of John’s Gospel.

When Peter would finally deny even knowing Jesus these words found here in v. 38 will play back to him loud and clear concerning his inability to do Jesus’ will in his own power. To Peter there will be no denying what Jesus was referring to. Even as Jesus was speaking these words to Peter, I am sure that Peter already knew that Jesus was right. However, again, this would not be the last confrontation that Jesus would have with Peter concerning this issue. We will see Jesus again pointedly dealing with Peter concerning his pride even at the end of this Gospel in Chapter 21.

The Gospel of John Lesson 52 (11-03-2013) John 13:33-5

The Gospel of John Lesson 52 (11-03-2013)

Lesson 52 – John 13:33-5

In v. 33 Jesus reminds them of something that He had said much earlier. He tells them that soon He would leave them. He had made this statement much earlier when He was debating with the Pharisees concerning God and what was to come found in Jn. 7:34 and 8:21. At that time He had addressed His audience telling them if they did not believe His message they would not join Him again later when He had gone to the Father. In other words, they would not be able to rejoin Him or God the Father in His Kingdom.

However, this was different. Here in Jn:13:33 he was addressing His followers, and even though He would also be leaving them, His message to them of leaving was temporary. Through the end of this chapter the Disciples and Jesus would discuss His leaving, but as we will see it would not be forever. His admonition to them was not one of farewell or complete departure never to meet again, but was instead one of representing Him in His absence until He returns and reunites with them.

After v. 33 Jesus says something interesting. He tells them that since He is leaving them for a season that they will need something to help get them through during His absence till He returns. While Jesus was with them He was able to preside over the selfish conflict and ambition that frequently dominated their relationship together. While they traveled together there were some power struggles and personal conflicts and personal ambition moves that occurred that could have easily divided them if Jesus had not been there. However, soon Jesus would not be there to preside and guide them concerning their differences and selfish desires.

It would be like a parent leaving their children for a season, leaving them to work it out on their own. Disastrous. Not always a pretty situation. Conflict can escalate quickly, in a moment, if a parent is not present. In v. 33 He actually addresses them as ‘little children’ interestingly enough. Yes, He would be sending them some help eventually sending them the Holy Spirit, but what He shares with them in the next few verses, with the Holy Spirit’s help, would be enough to keep them till He returned.

He tells them that this is a ‘New Commandment’ that He was giving unto them. I question, “Was this really new?” Hadn’t He been teaching them all along to do this? Many would say yes, saying that this was just a more pointed and more direct emphasis on what He had been trying to get them to understand and practice all along. Others, however, would actually pause and say, “No. I really think in some way this is actually a New Commandment”, having a different and deeper meaning than anything that He had ever said to them before, although… His meaning was not fully clear to them.

Some would argue that everything that Jesus taught and demonstrated was based on this precept and principle. However, was it? Was there something different to what Jesus was saying and teaching them this time that was indeed different and ‘new’?

If you were to think about it, much of what Jesus had taught them in the past was based on their doing it, doing good or doing the right thing. It is true, that what He was asking them to do or what He was showing them was based on God’s principles, but there was only one problem, in showing them God’s ways He was asking them to do what they by themselves were unable to do.

In much of Jesus’ teachings Jesus showed them the standard of giving and caring and doing. But, in doing so, the response that He expected was at best their best attempt, in reality, falling short of the full performance and intent of the act, ending up short of the intent and standard that Jesus requested.

In considering Jesus’ examples and lessons as He demonstrated them to us while with us, to me what we saw paralleled in relationship, when considering our performance ability, that of our being able to perform and keep the Old Testament Law.

Yes, what Jesus was showing us actually superseded the O. T. Law requirements being founded on grace, but as yet what we were being shown to do, what and how, was as yet by our own power, being unable to perform them as shown by Jesus, being in our own power.

Even the Golden Rule, as good as it is, Jesus telling them that on this rule was founded the foundation of all the Law and the prophets, when Jesus told them told them to do it, ‘to do unto others as you would have them do unto you’, was not practical for man in man’s present state. To perform what God was asking was in and of itself difficult. But, also,when considering this commandment, even as good as we would treat ourselves, when it was all said and done how we even treat ourselves  would be found lacking.

This commandment found in John 33:33-5 was indeed different. It would be based fully on the complete and prefect standard of God’s Love, coming from God Himself, making up for our insufficiency or inability. He knew that soon the Holy Spirit would come giving them the power to do it.

Prior to this they were always on the receiving end of Love, always getting, never truly giving it. Now He was not just telling them to do a good deed for someone now and again or even frequently. He was telling them to Love first, knowing that the real need would indeed be met by their action that followed if they did it in God’s power and love.

As good as the Golden Rule of service was it could not match ministering and caring in ‘God’s’ Love as Jesus Himself did. I believe that these are the ‘greater works’ that Jesus was referring to in John 14:12. We read that passage and immediately think that Jesus was referring to the supernatural miracles such as the calming of the sea or raising the dead. But, I don’t think so. I do not deny that God can and has chosen to show His power through His disciples at times in that way, but I believe that in Jn. 14:12 Jesus was referring more to His acts of love performed toward man as only God could go tntm.

The Apostle Paul put it this way in I Cor. Chapter 13:

1 Corinthians 13

New International Version (NIV)

13 If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

It appears to me that yes, this really was a ‘new commandment’, and, it was delivered to His disciples with something else in the box or package, the Power that would soon come to do it..the coming Holy Spirit. This commandment this time was not based on man’s ability. It came packaged with the Power of the Holy Spirit covered in ‘Grace’. This was what man was waiting for to finally work the works of God.

This commandment of ‘Loving one another’ packaged with God’s ability and Power was enough to keep them and the Christian Church while Jesus was away, and, would keep them till He came back. To me, this commandment supersedes the Golden Rule being given in God’s ability and power and not man’s. In v. 34 we read the commandment as given. It is important to remember that He did not simply tell them to ‘love one another’. If He had this commandment would be no greater than any other commandment given making it in essence no different than even the Golden Rule.

This commandment was stated that they were to ‘love one another as He had loved them’. To do this it would take an ‘act of God’ or God acting on man’s behalf in their action for this to happen. Only God could love like God. Soon He would tell them about this Power that was to come to help them to do this.

It is important to mention that these verses are also the missing link in most of our evangelism, Jn. 13:33-5. (Show Billy Graham trailer) ‘Doing this’ or performing this commandment as instructed was what Jesus said no man could mistake for God’s love and His work in this world for it contained God. This visual representation would have the biggest impact on those around us not only marking us as to Who’s we are, but also would talk loudly to those around of that same Love that could be for them.

In looking at this, a large part of our Christian life and experience comes into consideration here. The area that comes to mind is our ‘Fellowship’ with one another. The complete topic of fellowship is much too large for us to deal with at this point in our study, but at the same time it must be mentioned because it is the foundation of what Jesus is talking about here. Without fellowship, none of what Jesus is telling us to do here matters. In other words, it is impossible to obey this commandment without the application of God’s koinonia ‘in fellowship’ with one another. It is in fellowship that the benefits of this commandment are derived. It is in our meeting, ‘in fellowship’ with one another, availing ourselves of God’s power to love as only He could love that shows the world our God and their need for Him. (Heb. 10:25)