The prediction of Judas’ betrayal and Peter's
denial casts a dark shadow over John 13.
Yet into this very darkness shines the glory of God. A glimpse of the very character of God is
being displayed here. Love is being
displayed. Love is at work. Love is serving. Love is the commandment. In this place, here in this upper room, with
betrayal and denial before Him, the love of God, the love of Jesus, the love of
the Father for the Son, the love of the Son for the Father, the love of God for
sinners – the multifaceted love of God is being displayed. “Now is the Son of Man glorified” in the midst of this darkness
before the face of this darkness. This is not a glory that is shining up there
out of sight for some future display. “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is
glorified in Him.” (Jn 13:31)
The glory of the Lord, the glory of God, the glory of
Christ, each of these is a reference to the manifestation of God’s attributes. To give God glory means to reveal His
attributes, to believe in His attributes, to praise His attributes. The glory of God is the composite of all that
He is. And on the cross when Jesus died, He manifested all of the attributes of
God. On the cross we see the glory of
God’s holiness, His justice, His wrath, and His grace (just to name a
few).
We must not leave out the primary attribute of Christ on
display in John 13. In this passage we
see Jesus glorified, and God glorified in Him through his love. Love has been displayed in the foot
washing. Love has been displayed in
Jesus’ interaction with Judas. The next
day love will be ultimately displayed on the cross. “In
this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son
into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God
but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1
John 4:9-10)
Love was one of the characteristics that displayed the
glory of God in that upper room. Love
was one of the characteristics of God on display on the cross. And love is to the characteristic of Jesus’
disciples that displays His glory. The
love of Christ in us identifies us as a follower of Christ.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also
ought to love one another.” If anyone says, “I love
God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother
whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has
not seen. And this commandment we have
from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother (I Jn 4:11, 20-21). The love we have for one another is both a sign of saving faith in
Christ and a test of our salvation.
The love of
Jesus is not something that can be merely imitated. The love of Jesus is much more than something
we do. While it is intensely practical
(dirty feet need to be washed), it is first and foremost relational. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. The love that comes from Christ flows into us
– the branches – and through us into the lives of others. We are able to love as Jesus loved only because we love with the love of Jesus.
One important
way the love of Christ in us is renewed and refreshed is through worship. Worship is an indispensable point of
connection with Jesus. Our weekly
gathering for worship is also an indispensable point of connection with each
other. We come together in one heart as
His “little children” (Jn 13:33) to be with Him; to bless His name, and be
blessed by Him; to hear from Him through His Word, and let Him hear our prayers
and songs of praise; to love Him, and be loved by Him.
The song By Our Love by Christy Nockels will be a part of our service. The lyrics are below and you can hear it here.
Brothers let us come together,
walking in the Spirit,
T
here's much to be done;
We will come reaching
out from our comforts,
and they will know us by our love.
Sisters we were made for kindness
we can pierce the darkness
as He shines through us;
We will come reaching
with a song of healing,
and they will know us by our love.
The time is now, come church arise.
Love with His hands,
see with His eyes.
Bind it around you,
let it never leave you;
and they will know us by our love
Children you are hope for justice,
stand firm in the truth now;
Set your hearts above.
You will be reaching
Long after we're gone
And they will know you by your love.
The time is now, come church arise.
Love with His hands,
see with His eyes.
Bind it around you,
let it never leave you;
and they will know us by our lovethe darkness of the closing verses owith the prediction of Judas’ betrayal and Peter's denial, into this very
darkness shines the glory of God. A
glimpse of the very character of God is being displayed here. Love is being displayed. Love is at work. Love is serving. Love is the commandment. In this place, here in this upper room, with
betrayal and denial before Him, the love of God, the love of Jesus, the love of
the Father for the Son, the love of the Son for the Father, the love of God for
sinners – the multifaceted love of God is being displayed. “Now is the Son of Man glorified” in the midst of this darkness
before the face of this darkness. This is not a glory that is shining up there
out of sight for some future display. “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is
glorified in Him.” (Jn 13:31)
The glory of the Lord, the glory of God, the glory of
Christ, each of these is a reference to the manifestation of God’s attributes. To give God glory means to reveal His
attributes, to believe in His attributes, to praise His attributes. The glory of God is the composite of all that
He is. And on the cross when Jesus died, He manifested all of the attributes of
God. On the cross we see the glory of
God’s holiness, His justice, His wrath, and His grace (just to name a
few).
We must not to leave out the primary attribute of Christ
on display in John 13. In this passage we
see Jesus glorified, and God glorified in Him through his love. Love has been displayed in the foot
washing. Love has been displayed in
Jesus’ interaction with Judas. The next
day love will be ultimately displayed on the cross. “In
this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son
into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God
but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1
John 4:9-10)
Love was one of the characteristics that displayed the
glory of God in that upper room. Love
was one of the characteristics of God on display on the cross. And love is to the characteristic of Jesus’
disciples that displays His glory. The
love of Christ in us identifies us as a follower of Christ.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also
ought to love one another.” If anyone says, “I love
God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother
whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has
not seen. And this commandment we have
from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother (I Jn 4:11, 20-21). The love we have for one another is both a sign of saving faith in
Christ and a test of our salvation.
The love of
Jesus is not something that can be merely imitated. The love of Jesus is much more than something
we do. While it is intensely practical
(dirty feet need to be washed), it is first and foremost relational. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. The love that comes from Christ flows into us
– the branches – and through us into the lives of others. We are able to love as Jesus loved only because we love with the love of Jesus.
One important
way the love of Christ in us is renewed and refreshed is through worship. Worship is an indispensable point of
connection with Jesus. Our weekly
gathering for worship is also an indispensable point of connection with each
other. We come together in one heart as
His “little children” (Jn 13:33) to be with Him; to bless His name, and be
blessed by Him; to hear from Him through His Word, and let Him hear our prayers
and songs of praise; to love Him, and be loved by Him.
The song By Our Love by Christy
Nockels will be a part of our service.
The lyrics are below and you can hear it here.
Brothers let us come together,
walking in the Spirit,
T
here's much to be
done;
We will come reaching
out from our comforts,
and they will know us by our
love.
Sisters we were made for kindness
we can pierce the darkness
as He shines
through us;
We will come reaching
with a song of healing,
and they will know us by
our love.
The time is now, come church arise.
Love with His hands,
see with His
eyes.
Bind it around you,
let it never leave you;
and they will know us by our
love
Children you are hope for justice,
stand firm in the truth now;
Set your
hearts above.
You will be reaching
Long after we're gone
And they will know you by your
love.
The time is now, come church arise.
Love with His hands,
see with His eyes.
Bind it around you,
let it never leave you;
and they will know us by our love
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