“A New Commandment"
John 13:18-38

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” [John 13:34]

Jesus then said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” [v.13:35] Notice that the “all” includes the world [outside the church] while the “love for one another” is specific to Christians [inside the church]. 

And it is not just what we say, it is more so what we do. It is one thing to say “love,” and quite another to love. But here again we see Jesus teaching by example. A new commandment He gave, “that you love as I have loved you,” and then He willingly went to the Cross to die for your and my sin.

Last time we underscored some key components of the upper room discourse. Firstly, Jesus taught by example. After He washed His disciples’ feet, He said, “Do you know what I have done for you?” [v.13:12]. Then He told them to do likewise [ref. v.13:15]. 

Secondly, there will be several references to the Holy Spirit, a fundamental teaching in the upper room discourse. “Jesus answered [Peter] and said to him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” [v.13:7]

Only Jesus could serve in the sacrificial way of the Cross. We cannot do [nor comprehend] such servitude. It is simply not in us. But it is at the core of Jesus. That is why we need a Helper, the Holy Spirit, who abides, dwells, lives, loves, and serves from within.

Our text this morning highlights our Lord’s new command, and He again shows us. Notice that the bookends around His commandment to love are His prophesied betrayal [vv.13:18-29] and denial [vv.13:36-38] from ones He loved. 

Yes, Jesus still loved Judas Iscariot, even though He knew he would betray Him. Jesus still loved Peter even though He knew he would deny Him. Our Lord, yet again, taught by example.

Lastly, we should remember that it is in this kind of sacrificial love that the world will come to know [and see] that we are His disciples. Agape [love] is a powerful employment of evangelism.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”