October 1, 2017 Dr. Jim Cecy “Love: The Mark of Christianity” (John 13:31-18) Sermon Series: Dining With Jesus: Lessons from the Upper Room (John 13-17) Introduction: 1 John 3:14 “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren...” Love has always attracted the world to Christ’s followers and therefore to Christ. Conversely, the lack of love among Christians repels unbelievers from Christ’s followers and therefore from Christ Himself. John 13:31-38 Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times. Background: The disciples had grown up in a culture where …Jews hated Gentiles and loathed Samaritans …Jewish men thought they were superior to Jewish women

…Jewish Pharisees disliked the Jewish Sadducees …Jews despised the Romans

I. The Ultimate Purpose of Judas’ Betrayal John 13:31-32 Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. The betrayal of Judas was the open door for Christ’s glorification. What Judas meant for evil; God meant for good! 1. The contrast between good and evil — the goodness of God in Christ contrasted with the evil of Judas, motivated by Satan. 2. The contrast between love and hatred — the love of Christ who washed Judas’ feet contrasted with the hatred of Judas, about to betray Jesus with a kiss.

II. The Expression of Love (13:33a) John 13:33a “Little children, I am with you a little while longer…” “little children” = the plural form of a word tektos = “little born ones” = an expression of parental passion and intimacy. “I am a disciple whom Jesus loves.”

III. The Exhibit of Love (13:33b) John 13:33 “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

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John 7:34 “You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.” John 8:21-22 Then He said again to them, “I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son...” (John 3:16) Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

IV. The Exhortation to Love (13:34a) 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.” cf. John 15:12, 17

A “new” commandment? (cf. Lev. 19:18; Mk. 12:31) • It’s a new commandment because it is now the distinguishing mark of Christianity. • It’s a new commandment because it requires us to love whether the person loves us back or not. • It’s a new commandment because it supersedes distinctions of race, color and rank. • It’s a new commandment because it requires us to love one another the way Jesus loves us. • It’s a new commandment because it requires us to love our enemies (cf. Matt. 5:43-48)

V. The Example of Love (13:34b) 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.” Whereas before Christ came on the scene the people of God were just commanded to love their neighbors as themselves. The new commandment is that we are not only to love our neighbors as ourselves but we are also commanded to love one another the way Jesus loves us.

VI. The Expansion of Love (13:35) John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Love is the evidence to the world that we have been brought out of darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son.

VII. The Exchange of Love (13:36) John 13:36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” Little does Peter realize that Jesus is foretelling that Peter will eventually follow the Lord’s footsteps to death and face the same kind of execution (crucifixion) over 30 years later (cf. John 21:19)

VIII. The Expense of Love (13:37-38) John 13:37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” cf. Luke 22:23 Simon Peter had the desire to love without the power to love! John 13:38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.” Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” Hebrews 12:6 “For those whom the Lord loves, He disciplines...”

Conclusion: “Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” 1) Read 1 John — underline every use of the word “love” 2) Listen to the people around us who are our greatest living examples of Christ-like love

Discussion Questions: 1. What was the fundamental difference between Peter’s words and Jesus’ actions. What does this say about love? 2. What are the unique attributes of the “new” commandment to “love one another”? 3. Who are the two greatest living examples of Christ-like love you know? 4. What could you to do to extend Christ-like, sacrificial love to those with whom you have the most difficulty loving.

© 2017 Dr. James M. Cecy, Campus Bible Church, Fresno, CA 93726 | www.campusbiblechurch.com