John 13:31-35 | Food for Thought
Notes
v.31: “When he had done out…” He = Judas, having left to betray Jesus after dinner.
v.31: “Son of Man” = title from Daniel 7, referring to a person who would one day ascend to the throne next to the Father (“the Ancient of Days”) and be given the power to rule and reign and judge over all. Outside the New Testament, it’s a title associated with a lot of glory. But in the gospels, it’s often mingled with suffering. John brings the glory and the suffering together here. (Carson commentary)
v.31-32: “…glorified, …glorified, …glorified, ….glorify, …glorify.” Lots of glory here, and it might be a little confusing. Jesus says that:
His own glory (the Son of Man’s) is being revealed in everything that’s happening and about to happen.
God’s glory is being revealed in Jesus, too.
God himself will also glorify Jesus “at once!”
In other words, Jesus is revealing his own glory, pointing to God’s glory, and will be lifted up in glory by God… starting now!
v.34-35: Since Jesus is about to depart, he’s sharing with them some “parting words” to drive home what he wants them to be and do while he’s away.
v.34: “A new commandment.” This commandment isn’t new because it tells the disciples to love. (See the two greatest commandments to love the Lord and our neighbor!) This commandment is new because the source and standard of love are new: Jesus’ love. Exemplified already in washing the feet of both his true disciples and his betrayer and about to be exemplified even more in dying on the cross, Jesus not only set a higher standard for love, but he also gave us a deeper, more sure, and “to the end” (13:1) kind of love that we live in and draw from.
v.35: This isn’t a command to love the world, enemies, outsiders, etc. less; it’s a charge to love fellow disciples more. In the midst of whatever confusion, fear, hardships, conflict, selfish ambition, etc. might come about after Jesus leaves, Jesus is calling his disciples to love one another as he has loved all of them all along.
Questions
Immediately after Judas left, Jesus said the he was glorified “now” and that God will glorify him “at once.” Not waiting until sometime later, but now! How is that possible when he just let Judas get away with the crime that would kill him?
How does this challenge our idea of glory? What do we think of as being “glorious,” and how might Jesus idea of glory agree or disagree with that?
How does this free us to be able to glorify God even when life’s not great, things are about to go bad, people are against us, and there’s no “way out?”
Jesus said that where he’s going, they can’t come. What does this mean? Where was he going? (The “Son of Man” reference should give you a clue!)
How would you hear this news if you were in the room?
Why was Jesus the only one who could go there? How’s that part of his good news to us?
Jesus gives his disciples a commandment that doesn’t “feel” too new, but apparently is new. What makes this command to love different from all the others? (See note above)
What are the “old” ways of loving? (Maybe even read the two greatest commandments!) How are we simply drawn to obey the “old commands to love” out of our own strength? How is obeying this new command to love different?
How is this love going to set apart the disciples from “everyone” else in the world who’s watching?
Why would Jesus think now is a good time to be giving new commands to his disciples?
Why this command and not some other one? What commands would you give if you were able to leave a group of people you’ve raised up, prepared to send out, and are about to leave?