A New
Commandment - John 13:31-38
Jonathan Stephen - Carey Baptist Church - 19 March 2006
This
morning we begin our consideration of the so-called 'Farewell Discourse' of the
Lord Jesus Christ, which extends to the end of Chapter 16. With Judas'
departure, Jesus rejoices in the glory he is about to share with his Father in
the victory of the cross (verses 31-32). With great affection, he calls his
remaining disciples his 'children', and seeks to prepare them for life without
his physical presence: We shall concentrate on the 'New Commandment' of verses
34-35. Peter's failure even to register this command to love, combined with his
ignorant and arrogant self-confidence (verses 36-38), remind us that we can do
nothing in the Christian life in our own strength. Christian love, in
particular, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Unless we are filled with the
Spirit, we shall never be able to exhibit the kind of love which Jesus is
speaking of here.
Why
does Jesus refer to the command to love as being 'new'? Had he not summarised
the whole moral law in terms of loving God and loving 'your neighbour as yourself
(Mark 12:28-31)? And yet this command of the New Covenant was really new in
every way. It was new because of:
Who they were to love
The
love commanded here is not the basic love to be shown to all - but the special
love to be reserved for our Christian brothers and sisters. Read Galatians 6:
10 to get an idea of the distinction. Ties of grace are stronger than ties of
race or nation (Galatians 3:28), and even than ties of natural family (Matthew
10:35). The love between members of the family of God will last for all
eternity. Jesus is here commanding love in a totally new kind of relationship. .
How they were to love
Under
the Law of Moses, the Israelites were to love their neighbours as well as they
loved themselves. But the Lord here prescribes an altogether higher and nobler
standard for love between Christian believers. We are to love as Christ has
loved us! And how does Christ love us?
Sacrificially.
he gave everything of himself, his very life, that we might live (John
15:13).
Unselfishly.
He loved us simply because of the good he could do us, not for any gain.
Feelingfully.
He weeps and rejoices with those he loves (Hebrews 4:15).
Intimately.
He bared his heart to his disciples - even though they often hurt him.
Patiently.
He never despairs of us, despite our many and repeated failings.
Practically.
He washed his disciples' feet - and ultimately went to the cross for them.
Permanently.
'Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus' (Romans
8:28).
Much more could be said, but our love for our
brothers and sisters in Christ should reflect all of these qualities. Think of
ways in which your love could be more Christlike.
Why they were to love
Under
the Old Covenant, the Israelites were to love others because they had been
redeemed from physical slavery in
But
we must also love each other because we are placed in a hostile environment
(Matthew 10:16; John 15:19). We need each other. Each true Christian is a work
of grace. There must be something lovable in every true believer! We will be
loving each other for all eternity - it is important that we begin now! Love
for our fellow' saints is a mark of grace and a source of personal assurance of
faith (1 John 3:14). And, because the love of Christians for each other helps
identify what they are, it attracts unbelievers to Christ and his gospel (verse
35).
Remember,
it is love, not orthodoxy, that is the supreme badge of Christianity! It has
been the glory of the Church from its beginning. May everyone say of Carey
Christians, 'See how they love one another!'