Lesson #217
With this lesson we will start the next short section, defined by John 13:31 – 35, which introduces a new commandment that we are to consider. Our last lesson ended with Jesus going out into the night: “When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him”” (John 13:31 ESV). Judas has left on his devilish mission, leaving Jesus with the true disciples and thus greater freedom to have conversation with them about his suffering and death. There is so much yet to explain to his disciples about their future conduct and behavior.
Let us stop and think for a moment. Peter motioned to John, who was leaning next to Jesus, to ask him who the betrayer was. John must have been stunned when he learned it was Judas and then things began to come together in his mind. Remember when Mary took the expensive ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus and Judas got upset over this as a waste. He thought the ointment should be sold for 300 denarii and the money given to Jesus to give to the poor. As the one in charge of the moneybag, John now realized that Judas was a thief all along, helping himself to the money (John 12:3 – 6). As Judas leaves the meal, being sent out by Jesus, John is trying to process this new information that there has been a devil living in their midst and now he is probably out doing some evil work. Knowing that Judas is a betrayer, John now hears Jesus say, “Now is the Son of Man glorified.” “Now” set the beginning of the journey Jesus will make to the cross. As the Son of Man, his death in our place for our sin is his accomplished work and speaks of his present glory. The brightness of what Jesus is about to accomplish, troubles his spirit, but it over-powers all thought of the darkness along the path to the cross. The work the Son was doing was the Father’s work also, because the glory of the Son of Man in the redemption of the world was the glory of God, who gave His only-begotten Son, that by Him the world might be saved. We see this in the next verse: “If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once” (John 13:32 ESV).
What is probably one of the most emotionally charged moments of John’s life, he next hears Jesus say, “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’”” (John 13:33 ESV). “Little children” or beloved children is an expression which implies great tenderness and affection, like you would find with a mother toward her beloved children. With Judas no longer with the group, Jesus is free to use this expression of tenderness.
Jesus made it clear that the end of his life was at hand by saying, “Yet a little while I am with you.” Judas is gone to carry out his treason plans, leaving Jesus a short while to express his tenderness for them and that he was going to leave them in this cold and unfeeling world. Imagine that you were dying and had your loved ones around you. How would you feel if they were your children? What would you say to encourage them; to prepare them for your absence? This is what Jesus was doing with his disciples. Jesus knew they would miss him and express this by saying, “You will seek me”; an expression of longing for his presence. Jesus was going to the cross to die and for now the disciples cannot come because they must stay behind and complete the work left for them to do. In 13:36, Jesus assures them that the time without him would be temporary and short.
Prayer
Father, as I think about how to close this lesson with prayer, a verse in 1 Peter comes to mind: “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8 NKJV). Father, Jesus expressed how he loved his disciples and in 1 Peter, Peter instructs those to follow him with words of unity, compassion or sympathy, love, tenderhearted and courteous. If we were to live these out, seeing Jesus as our example, how different Christianity would be today. Father, as I look at these terms I realize they cannot exist in a proud and arrogant heart. Jesus referred to his disciples as little children. Father, I am afraid we have fallen short of having unity of mind, and showing sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart with a humble mind toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. Father, forgive us and help us live out Galatians 2:20.
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