John 13:31-35
Love One Another
Something happens in today’s Gospel
reading which is sort of off-stage. It
is evidenced by the opening line, but I wonder if all of us caught the
significance. If you have your bible,
you are more likely to be aware of the preceding events. All of which are important in understanding
what is going on in these few short verses.
Look again at verse 31, the first
of our appointed lessons for today. It
reads, “When he had gone out….” Who is
the “he” in that verse? Judas. Judas has gone out. Judas has gone out to link up with the Temple
Guards who will shortly come to the place where Jesus is praying in order to
arrest Jesus.
Judas is the one who has left the
room. In the verses just prior to those read
today, Jesus allows some of those at dinner to know that Judas was about to
betray him. When they ask, “Who will do
this thing?” Jesus says it is “the one
to whom I give this piece of bread.” He
dips it in the wine, gives it to Judas. Jesus
then tells Judas, “Do quickly what you are going to do.”
The sequence of events might be
significant. Judas goes out AFTER Jesus
has shared the meal. In John there is no
recitation of the words of institution, so commonly associated with the Last
Supper. If you wish to insert those
words into John, it would come prior to Jesus telling Judas it was time for him
to do what he was going to do. That
sequence of events might be important.
Jesus waits till AFTER he has shared the cup and loaf to give Judas his
leave.
Something else has happened,
too. If you were in worship on Maundy
Thursday, you are likely to recognize these verses from John 13. They are the
words spoken in the immediate context of Jesus having washed the feet of the
disciples.
Again, the sequence may be
important. Jesus places himself in the
role of servant and the role of provider – BEFORE he addresses the injustice
which is about to be perpetrated upon him.
He shows his love of Judas - he seems to insist on showing his love of
Judas – before acknowledging that Judas will be the one who betrays him. He does not send Judas out until AFTER he has
washed his feet and shared with him the bread and wine.
This is the context into which
Jesus instructs his disciples to “love one another.” We too often allow restrictions or limits to
be placed on whom we will show the love of Jesus. But if the sequence of events in the story
matter, Jesus tells us that we are to wash the feet and offer the food from our
table even to those who will betray us.
If you look a bit forward in your
bibles you will see that Judas isn’t the only one whom Jesus might find opportunity
to exclude from his love. Our reading
ends at verse 35. Does someone have
their bible open who can share with the rest of us the story which begins in
the 36th verse? - - - It is the exchange with Peter in which Peter
insists he will never abandon Jesus.
Peter insists that he will lay down his life for Jesus, only to be told
by Jesus that he will deny even knowing Jesus three times before the crowing of
the roosters.
When Jesus says to “Love as I have
loved,” he speaks to those who do not always respond the way we would
hope.
And yet – clearly – Jesus loves
them. He loves Peter and he loves
Judas. He washes their feet and he feeds
them at his table. And he says to those
who have also been invited to this banquet that they are to show their identity
by doing the same. Actually, he says
their identity will be revealed when they do the same. One does not become Jesus’ disciple by loving
one another, as Jesus has loved us.
Rather, it is in loving one another that our identity as Jesus’
disciples becomes known.
While we may be tempted to limit
those who are to be extended this love, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that we
are to fling wide our arms and love even those who deny us or betray us. We are to love as Jesus has loved.
As happens in today’s gospel
reading, so also happening among us is an event that is somewhat
off-stage. I am referring to the Farewell
and Godspeed begin extended to the departing students. And I want to call attention to how their
time among us is an revealing of this congregation’s identity as followers of
Jesus.
First, students, I think you know
that there are countless ways in which this congregation makes choices for your
sake. They pay the bills around
here. Because they want to provide for
you, they cover my salary and build the buildings, they keep the lights on and
the wi-fi working.
They also endure the endless
parking battles, and the constant cleaning up from late night activities
experienced as a result of remaining adjacent to a college campus. This congregation loves you, and they show
that love in every way they can. I know
you know this. But it is good to speak
about it out loud from time to time.
This love is given freely and
without any strings attached. But it is
given with a hope. And that hope is that
as you grow into adulthood you would remember this exchange and imitate the
actions in which you have been loved. Look
for ways and opportunities in which you can be the one who cares for
others. This is not to ignore or
minimize the work you did last weekend through your participation in Relay for
Life, or your building of wheel-chair ramps over spring break, or all the
colorful quits you have sent to the children’s hospital and the homebound at
Clemson Community Care, or the gifts of song you have shared in worship services. But it is the hope of every community of
Jesus’ followers that the expressions of loved offered will generate
appropriate responses.
We want to hear the good news that
you have found a new congregational home and want us to transfer your
membership. We want to know that you
have started teaching Sunday School or accepted a position on the
Congregational Council. It may be
through Facebook posts, but we want to learn of your participation in Big
Brothers, or of your support for refugees, or your actions to bring an end to
all forms of racism.
Love, as you have been loved.
And read the stories of how Jesus
loved. Mimic his way. Wash their feet of others and attend to their
needs. Don’t wait to see how they will
respond or reply – love them and care for them and leave it to God to explain
why some can be loved so deeply yet continue to hate or refuse to love in
return.
This is Jesus’ command. It has been spoken of as the only command
which Jesus ever gives. It isn’t about
doctrinal purity nor does it have to do with ritual. It is about the way we treat others; it is
about the way in which we see them and how we respond to them. It is a simple command, really.
“I give you a new commandment, that
you love one another. As I have loved
you, you also should love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love
for one another.”
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment