João 13

Steven Cole · Citado em PreceptAustin

João 13

Cole - From the Light into the Night) “And It Was Night” As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. John 13:30 Today's Scripture & Insight : John 13:21–32 Elie Wiesel’s book Night (BORROW) starkly confronts us with the horrors of the Holocaust. Based on his own experiences in Nazi death camps, Wiesel’s account flips the biblical story of the Exodus. While Moses and the Israelites escaped slavery at the first Passover (Exodus 12), Wiesel tells of the Nazis arresting Jewish leaders following Passover. Lest we criticize Wiesel and his dark irony, consider that the Bible contains a similar plot twist. On the night of Passover, Jesus, expected to free God’s people from suffering, instead permits Himself to be arrested by those who would kill Him. John ushers us into the holy scene before Jesus’ arrest. “Troubled in spirit” over what awaited Him, at the Last Supper Jesus predicted His betrayal (John 13:21). Then, in an act we can scarcely comprehend, Christ served His betrayer bread. The account reads: “As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night” (v. 30). History’s greatest injustice was underway, yet Jesus declared, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him” (v. 31). In a few hours, the disciples would experience panic, defeat, and dejection. But Jesus saw God’s plan unfolding as it should. When have you experienced panic, loss of hope, and despair? How would you describe how you felt after you came through that dark experience? Thank You, Jesus, for keeping Your Father’s plan in view when You went through the steps to the cross. Thank You for conquering death for us. “And It Was Night” Having received the piece of bread, [Judas] then went out immediately. And it was night. — John 13:30 Today's Scripture : John 13:21-30 During a business trip to Philadelphia, I attended an evening service on the Thursday before Easter—a service of Communion and Tenebrae (darkness) held in a small chapel lit by candles. Following the bread and the cup, a passage was read aloud from the gospel of John, one candle was extinguished, and we sang a verse from a hymn about Jesus’ journey to the cross. This was repeated 14 times until the chapel was completely dark. In silence we knelt in prayer and then left one by one without speaking. The darkness of this type of service can remind us of the dark elements surrounding Jesus’ death. Think of His last meal with the disciples (John 13:21-30) as He explained that one of them would betray Him. Only Jesus knew it was Judas. “Having received the piece of bread, [Judas] then went out immediately. And it was night” (v.30). On the darkest evening of Jesus’ life, He agonized in prayer in the Garden, faced a wrongful arrest, endured humiliation at the hands of religious leaders, and winced at Peter’s denials. Yet He moved faithfully toward the cross where He would die for our sins. See, from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? —Watts Calvary reveals the vileness of our sin and the vastness of God’s love. John 13:31 Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; John 13:31 CLICK HERE TO READ PASSAGE IN OVER 60 ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS Now: Jn 7:39 11:4 12:23 16:14 Lu 12:50 Ac 2:36 3:13 Col 2:14,15 Heb 5:5-9 and God: Jn 12:28 14:13 Jn 17:1-6 Isa 49:3-6 Lu 2:10-14 Ro 15:6-9 2Co 3:18 2Co 4:4-6 Eph 1:5-8,12 2:7 3:10 Php 2:11 1Pe 1:21 4:11 Rev 5:9-14 Related Resources: John 17:1-6 (THIS PRAYER IS SOON AFTER JUDAS HAD DEPARTED) Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. 3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. 6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. PRINCE OF DARKNESS GONE SON OF GOD SHINES FORTH Therefore (oun - term of conclusion) when (time phrase) he had gone out - The power of darkness has left the room and now the Light shines forth in the glory of Christ. The cross became a certainty the minute Judas left the room -- Ray Stedman John

João 13

Cole - This statement takes us back to John 12:23, where after hearing that some Greeks were seeking Him, Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” As the context there makes clear, He was referring to His death on the cross. The cross glorified both Jesus and His Father (John 12:28). On one level, the cross was the epitome of humiliation and shame. There was no worse way to die than to be stripped naked, flogged, and then nailed to a splintery cross and hung up to suffer a slow death as a public spectacle. But in another superior sense, the cross was the epitome of glory both for the Father and the Son. To glorify God is to magnify or display His perfect attributes. At the cross, God’s love, righteousness, justice, mercy, and grace were magnified as at no other occasion in history. At the cross, God’s justice was upheld as His sinless Son bore the awful penalty that His justice demanded for all sinners. But His love and grace shine forth as He offers eternal life to all who will repent of their sin and trust in Jesus alone. (Loving as Jesus Loved)

João 13

Cole explains Jesus' declaration to the 11 disciples "The picture again is of a caring father explaining to his children that he has to go away for a while, and they can’t accompany him. But he promises that they will be reunited later. The point is, Jesus’ love was filled with tender feelings for His disciples." (Loving as Jesus Loved ) Little children (5040) teknion diminutive of teknon) is literally My "born ones", the diminutive expresses affection accounting for some of the translations as "my dear children." Teknion designates a little child and is used by John to address those who are true followers of Jesus. Teknion - 8v - Jn. 13:33; 1 Jn. 2:1; 1 Jn. 2:12; 1 Jn. 2:28; 1 Jn. 3:7; 1 Jn. 3:18; 1 Jn. 4:4; 1 Jn. 5:21 John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34 CLICK HERE TO READ PASSAGE IN OVER 60 ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS A new: Ga 6:2 1Jn 2:8-10 3:14-18,23 2Jn 1:5 That you love: Jn 15:12,13,17 17:21 Lev 19:18,34 Ps 16:3 Ps 119:63 Ro 12:10 1Co 12:26,27 13:4-7 Ga 5:6,13,14,22 6:10 Eph 5:2 Php 2:1-5 Col 1:4 3:12,13 1Th 3:12 4:9,10 2Th 1:3 Heb 13:1 Jas 2:8 1Pe 1:22 3:8,9 2Pe 1:7 1Jn 4:7-11,21 5:1 Related Passages: Leviticus 19:18+ ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:34+ ‘The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God. John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." John 15:12–13, 17 This is My commandment, that you love one another, JUST AS I have loved you. 13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends....17 “This I command you, that you love one another. A NEW COMMANDMENT: LOVE JESUS IS THE STANDARD A new (kainos) commandment I give to you, that you love (agapao) one another (allelon) - New (kainos) refers to a commandment which is brand new, of a new kind, unprecedented, unheard of. New (kainos) also refers to the New (kainos) Covenant in His blood (Lk 22:20+) that He would soon "ratify" on the Cross and which would pave the way for the new power source, the indwelling Spirit, Who would enable obedience to this command. See listing of One another which is a frequent phrase in the New Testament. As John Piper wonderfully explains below this "old" commandment is "new" because we now have a new pattern (Jesus) and a new power. Love for our triune God is most clearly demonstrated not through lip service, but through obedience. -- John MacArthur Even as I have loved (agapao) you, that you also love (agapao) one another (allelon) - The key word is "as" by which Jesus is saying they (we) are to love like Jesus loved! Jesus' love is the pattern, the highest pattern, that the disciples are to imitate! Note the qualifying phrase even as I have loved you. That's past tense which means that this quality of love was demonstrated by Jesus even toward Judas! Even washing his filthy feet! Ponder that for a moment! And an even more infinite expression of His love for them would be the laying down His life for them on the Cross. This is certainly one thing that is new about this commandment. Both of these acts (foot washing and cross) are a call to death to self and to love selflessly, sacrificially like Jesus (cf Jn 15:13), something that is not humanly possible, but clearly requires dependence on the supernatural enabling power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Of course, at this time the disciples only had the Spirit "with" them, but within about 40 days on Pentecost they would have the Spirit forever within themselves (Jn 14:17 -"He abides WITH you and will be IN you"). Thereafter they would have continual access to the enabling power of the Spirit, and the first component of His supernatural fruit is love (Gal 5:22+) Paul also describes the new quality of this love in 1Co 13:4-7+. THOUGHT - As Jesus' disciples, this new commandment is for us as well. How are you (am I) doing? Are you (am I) obeying this new commandment? Am I relying on the supernatural power provided by the Holy Spirit to love even those people I don't particularly like (Woe!)? Jesus is our pattern, so are you (am I) Walking Like Jesus Walked? Or are you (am I) striving (futilely in reliance on own strength and resolve) to love even as Jesus loved? Beloved, such great love is IM-possible, but praise God it is HIM-possible, as we learn to rely of the Spirit of Jesus (Acts 16:7, Php 1:19). Love’s highest expression is self-sacrifice. --John MacArthur Skip Heitzig on new commandment - Because He goes, now there's a new standard by which you are to love, and that is, you're to love people like I love (SAYS JESUS). As I have loved, that's how you're to love. You saw Me wash feet, you wash feet. You saw Me serve, you serve. You see how I love, you love like I love. Well, how did Jesus love? Well, let's see? Sacrificially. Well, let's see. Unconditionally. Well, let's see. Non-reciprocally. He loved us while we were sinners, without us loving Him back. He loved in a sacrificial manner, unconditional manner, and non-reciprocal manner. That's the new standard. C H Spurgeon on why it is a new commandment - It is new, first, as to the extent of the love. We are to love our neighbour as ourselves, but we are to love our fellow-Christians as Christ loved us, and that is far more than we love ourselves. Christ loved us better than he loved himself, for he loved us so much that he gave himself for us...Next, it is a new commandment because it is backed by a new reason....He has redeemed us with his own heart’s blood, and therefore his new commandment comes to us with the greatest possible force, “That ye love one another as I have loved you.”....It is a new commandment because of the extent of it, and also because of the reason by which it is supported. It is a new commandment, also, because it is a new love, springing from a new nature, and embracing a new nature.....The love which Christ commands his followers to have towards one another is not the ordinary love of man to man as such, but the love of the new-born man to the new-born man. Let us, who love the Lord, love each other fervently in that sense. This is a love which arises out of a totally new union.....And, beloved friends, this is a new commandment because it is enforced by new necessities. Christians ought to love one another because they are the subjects of one King, who is also their Saviour. We are a little band of brothers in the midst of a vast multitude of enemies.....Further, dear brethren, this is a new commandment because it is suggested by new characteristics. In our fellow-men, there may be something lovable; but in our fellow-Christians, there must be something lovable.....And, once more, this is a new commandment because it is a preparation for better prospects than we have ever enjoyed before. We, who believe in Jesus, are going to live together in heaven for ever and ever, so we may as well be good friends while we are here. We shall see each other there in one common glory, and be occupied for ever in one common employment, the adoration of our Lord and Master. (For full exposition of each point see Christ's 'New Commandment') The more we appreciate the love of the Saviour, the higher His standard appears; the higher His standard appears, the more we recognize in our selfishness, our innate self-centredness, the depth of our own sin. -- D A Carson D. A. Carson - The new command (NOTE: In the Latin Vulgate, ‘new commandment’ appears as mandatum novum, from which we derive ‘Maundy Thursday’, the anniversary of the last supper when the new commandment was instituted.) is simple enough for a toddler to memorize and appreciate, profound enough that the most mature believers are repeatedly embarrassed at how poorly they comprehend it and put it into practice: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. The standard of comparison is Jesus’ love (cf. Jn 13:1), just exemplified in the footwashing (cf. Jn 13:12–17); but since the footwashing points to his death (Jn 13:6–10), these same disciples but a few days later would begin to appreciate a standard of love they would explore throughout their pilgrimage. The more we recognize the depth of our own sin, the more we recognize the love of the Saviour; the more we appreciate the love of the Saviour, the higher His standard appears; the higher His standard appears, the more we recognize in our selfishness, our innate self-centredness, the depth of our own sin. With a standard like this, no thoughtful believer can ever say, this side of the parousia, ‘I am perfectly keeping the basic stipulation of the new covenant.’ (BORROW The Gospel According to John page 484 - see this link for some additional thoughts from Dr Carson on what makes this commandment new ) The church is to be a loving church in a dying culture. -- Francis Schaeffer John MacArthur on practical ways to practice this new commandment - In his book The Mark of the Christian (BORROW), Francis Schaeffer listed two practical ways Christians can manifest love for each other. They can do so first by being willing to apologize and seek forgiveness from those they have wronged. What causes the sharpest, most bitter disputes in the body of Christ are not doctrinal differences, but the unloving manner in which those differences are handled. Being willing to apologize to those whom we have offended is crucial to preserving the unity of the body of Christ. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that reconciliation with other people is a prerequisite to worshiping God: “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering” (Matt. 5:23–24). A second practical way to demonstrate love is to grant forgiveness. In light of the eternal forgiveness that comes through the cross, Christians should be eager to forgive the temporal offenses committed against them (Matt. 18:21–35; cf. 6:12, 14–15). Because God’s love has transformed believers’ hearts, they are able to extend that love to others in forgiveness. (See John Commentary - Page 90) Francis Schaeffer adds some convicting comments... The church is to be a loving church in a dying culture.… In the midst of the world, in the midst of our present dying culture, Jesus is giving a right to the world. Upon his authority he gives the world the right to judge whether you and I are born-again Christians on the basis of our observable love toward all Christians.That’s pretty frightening. Jesus turns to the world and says, “I’ve something to say to you. On the basis of my authority, I give you a right: you may judge whether or not an individual is a Christian on the basis of the love he shows to all Christians.” In other words, if people come up to us and cast into our teeth the judgment that we are not Christians because we have not shown love toward other Christians, we must understand that they are only exercising a prerogative which Jesus gave them. (BORROW The Mark of the Christian PAGE 12) John