IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH SERIES: JOHN (GOSPEL OF TRUTH) LESSON: RADICAL LOVE JOHN 13:18-35 OCT. 3, 2021

MAIN POINT

By loving like Jesus loves, all men will know we are truly his disciples

JOHN CONTEXT Every lesson’s purpose: “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31

INTRODUCTION

All the conversation in this lesson occurs during the Last Supper. Jesus knows what is coming: “Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father” (John 13:1). Jesus knew “the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God” (v. 3). How does he respond? “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (13:1b). Jesus “rose from supper” (v.2) to perform the work of a servant, washing the feet of the disciples. Jesus told the disciples this was an object lesson, “an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (v. 15). To drive the point home, Jesus said: “[A] servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him” (v. 16). Notably, Jesus did and said these things knowing “the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him” (v. 2). Today’s lesson, verses 18-35, is found within this Last Supper—foot washing—servant leadership lesson context, and it consists of two parts. First, Jesus identifies one of His disciples as His betrayer. Second, Jesus commands His remaining disciples to love one another. The center-point of today’s lesson is verses 34 & 35, where Jesus says:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

This new commandment is, first of all, a command. It is “the law” for true believers. The command is for followers of Jesus to love one another with the radical love with which Jesus loves us. And, Jesus says it is by this emulated radical love that others will know we are true followers of Jesus. What do you think about this as a Kingdom concept?

Can a person serve as a true servant if he or she is not a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Can a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ ever function autonomously? Does the concept of human good vs. divine good help in answering these questions?

EXPLANATION // …believe Jesus is the Christ…

Unpack the biblical text to discover what the Scripture says.

HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ JOHN 13:18-20

John 13:18-20 tells us Judas would betray Jesus and it did not come as a surprise to Jesus. In fact, it was fulfilment of prophecy. John 13:18-20 - That ... You May Believe That I Am.

18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, “He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me” (Ps. 41:90). 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.

Jesus’ foot-washing object lesson illustrated the need for His followers to (as John Piper says) “go low.” Jesus illustrated that even with His high standing – “Lord and Teacher” (v. 13) – He had intentionally gone low in serving the disciples. The disciples were admonished to likewise “go low” – to wash one another’s feet (v. 14). Assuming the low position of a servant is not without risk. Not all will respond in kindness. Nevertheless, true believers had previously been instructed by Jesus to both love enemies (Matt. 5:44 - “But I say to you, Love your enemies... .”) and love neighbors (Matt. 22:39 - “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”). Verse 20 gives the “truly, truly” reason for intentionally assuming the risk of going low to serve others: “[W]hoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” This verse could be interpreted in a couple of ways. One is to see this as a Holy Trinity verse. See the connection? If we “receive the one [Jesus] send[s]” (v. 20a) – that’s the Spirit of Christ – then we receive Jesus [v. 20b]. And if we receive Jesus, we receive “the one who sent [Jesus]” (v. 20c) – that’s the Father. In this instance, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit. As a reminder, Jesus said at John 7:37-38 (Festival of Booths), "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'" (John 7:37b-38). John tells us 7:38: “Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive.” Spirit-filled servants give drinks and wash feet. A second way to look at the verse is to see Jesus as sending his disciples: “whoever receives the one [disciples] I [Jesus] send receives me. And whoever receives me receives the one [the Father] who sent me.” This perspective makes sense in light of Jesus’ command in John 13:16 where Jesus tells his disciples: “a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” It also makes sense in light of Jesus later telling his disciples they are to love like he loves and that all men will know they are his disciples if they love one another (13:34-

35). Jesus is communicating the enormous role his disciples are stepping into. They will be Jesus’ representatives on earth just as Jesus represented the Father. Because of this, they must serve like Jesus served. They must love like Jesus loved. Now, What About Judas? In the middle of this Last Supper lesson, Jesus turns to the issue of Judas, saying (verse 18):

I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, “He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am.

Judas is in the Twelve, not because Jesus slipped up in choosing him, but because Scripture must be fulfilled. There is to be a traitor at this very table. This is the plan. In eternity past, God designed it to be this way. And He prophesied it in the Old Testament. And Jesus knew it when he chose Judas: “Jesus knew from the beginning who . . . it was who would betray him” (John 6:64). The Old Testament prophet Zechariah returned from Babylonian captivity to Palestine around 536 B.C.. Zechariah, the book, has the clearest and the largest number of messianic passages among the Minor Prophets. The book of Zechariah is sort-of a miniature version of the book of Isaiah. Zechariah pictures Christ in both His first coming (Zechariah 9:9 – quoted by John is explaining the Triumphal Entry as fulfilment of prophecy) and His second coming (9:10–10:12). Jesus will come, according to Zechariah, as Savior, Judge, and, ultimately, the righteous King ruling His people from Jerusalem (14:8–9). Interestingly, Zechariah’s prophesy includes the betrayal of the Messiah for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13):

And I said unto them, “If you think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my hire thirty pieces of silver.” And Jehovah said unto me, “Cast it unto the potter, the goodly price that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them unto the potter, in the house of Jehovah."

Minute details are given. There would be a haggling of terms: “If you think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear.” Matthew records Judas' words as follows: “What are you willing to give me, and I will deliver him unto you?” (Matthew 26:15). Luke says the chief “covenanted" to give him the money, and the traitor "consented" to the deal (Luke 22:5-6). Zechariah specified the bargain would be made in "silver" (not gold or bronze or other coinage) – “thirty pieces.” Matthew reports: “And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him” (Matthew 26:15-16). Significantly, under the Mosaic law, thirty pieces of silver was the price to be paid to remedy the damage done to a slave that had been gored by a neighbor's ox (Exodus 21:32). Jesus washed feet – and went to the cross – as the "servant" of God. “[H]e ... emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). This servant was "wounded" – gored – by the nails of the crucifixion brutality. “He was pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5). “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails...” (John 20:25).

Zechariah's prophecy indicated that the money would be returned to the Jewish leaders, the custodians of "the house of God." Matthew's record reveals that Judas, in a swoon of regret, brought back the coinage to the chief priests and elders. But they would have none of it. They would not allow the temple treasury to be contaminated with "blood money." Zechariah indicated that the silver coins were to be "cast" (thrown) in the "house of Jehovah." Judas "cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary" (Matthew 27:5). Zechariah suggests that the ultimate destination of the "goodly price" would be to "the potter." Matthew tells us the chief priests took the money and purchased a "potter's field," which would serve as a burial place for strangers. When Matthew penned his Gospel record (20 to 30 years after Christ's death), the place was still known as "the field of blood" (27:8; cf. Acts 1:18-19). Zechariah's prophecy was given more than five centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ. In John 13:19 Jesus says, “I am telling you this [that Judas is going to betray me] now, before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe that I Am.” Jesus’ foreknowledge of Judas’ sinful acts is a pointer to His deity – that He is the great “I Am” of Exodus 3:14.

HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ JOHN 13:21-30

21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, "Lord, who is it?" 26 Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

After washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus said, “’And you are clean, but not every one of you.’ For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’” So, Jesus knows who is about to betray him, and he was “troubled in His spirit” by this knowledge (13:21). Notice how Jesus responds! He announces the imminent betrayal to his disciples, and then continued to feed the betrayer – His enemy: “So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot” (13:26). After eating “the morsel of bread,” Judas leaves to do his dirty work. The narrator adds, “and it was night” (13:30).

John provides details only an eyewitness could give. When Jesus said one of the disciples would betray him (verse 21), the disciples did not know who he was talking about (verse 22). Peter signals John to ask Jesus who is the betrayer (verses 23-24). John “leans back against Jesus” and asks him (verse 25). Jesus says – evidently, very softly to John – “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it” (verse 26). That the other disciples don’t know what Jesus said is shown by the fact they don’t know why he was leaving. These things really happened! “He who saw it has borne witness — his testimony is true” (John 19:35).

HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ JOHN 13:31-33

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’”

At this dark moment – “When [Judas] had gone out” – Jesus spoke ... but not a word was said about Judas. Jesus, instead, focused on his immediate mission. Preparing his disciples for what is to come next, Jesus speaks of being glorified and of glorifying God (John 13:31-32). When John uses the word “glorification,” he is referencing Jesus’ coming elevation on a cross (3:14; 12:23-28) and subsequent resurrection. Using tender words (“little children”), Jesus tells his remaining disciples He will be with them only a little longer, and further, they cannot come where he is going (13:33).

HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ JOHN 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Finally, we get to the heart of this lesson! After telling of His soon-coming departure, Jesus next focuses on the need for his disciples to stick together – to live in community – to love one another as he has loved them (John 13:34).

As a follower of Jesus – justified through faith in Christ – we/you true believers are persons under authority. We are not our own. We do not call the shots. Jesus is more to us than the Master of our life, but He is not less. He comes to us with more than commandments, but not less. A true believer is a person whose life is defined by the will of another, namely, Jesus. What he wills you want. What Jesus wills and commands His disciples is in this verse: His followers are to love each other, like Jesus loves us. “A new commandment I give you…” This is not a new suggestion, or a new idea, or a new possibility, or a new life-option; it is a new commandment. Let love be “the law” for Christians.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34).

From Menial to Heroic, And Everything in Between In John’s Gospel, two parallel verses help flesh out the meaning of “love one another” (John 13:34-35). Earlier, in John 13:13-15, Jesus told his disciples:

You call me Teacher and Lord — and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

And, later, in John 15:12-14, Jesus said:

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

On the one hand, loving one another as Jesus has loved us extends to the most menial tasks – serving one another. On the other hand, this as-Jesus-loved, one-another-love extends to the most heroic tasks – giving one’s life for another. It follows, then, that the love of which Jesus speaks ... and which Jesus demonstrated in his life and death... extends from the mundane to the heroic, encompassing every kind of self-giving act in between. To top it off, Jesus tells his disciples that it is by this kind of as-Jesus-loved, one-another-love that everyone will know that they (and we) are his disciples (John 13:35). So, What’s New About Jesus’ New Commandment? What’s new is that Jesus is now the pattern and the power for Christian love. The Old Testament says: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18) and “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink” (Proverbs 25:21). So far, in the

New Testament, Jesus has told His disciples to love enemies (Matt. 5:44 - "But I say to you, love your enemies") and love neighbors (Matt. 22:39 - "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."). Now, to all this, Jesus adds: “[L]ove one another as I have loved you.” Jesus Is Our Pattern The New Commandment is given at the Last Supper. Jesus first acted out the New Commandment as an example (John 13:15). He then verbalized it in no uncertain terms: [L]ove one another as I have loved you” (John 13:15, 13:34, & 15:12). The New Commandment is an additional pattern of love for followers of Jesus. As Philippians 2:5-7 says:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

That’s what Jesus did for us. And that’s what we are to do to/for each other. “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). We are to serve each other. In this fallen world, there is dirty work that has to be done – like washing the dirt off of dirty feet when there were no boots, no socks, and no sidewalks. Those feet had to be washed. Jesus’ example is our pattern. He assumed the position of the lowest servant. As followers of Jesus, we are to set aside any notion of rank or privilege, and willingly assume the position of “servant” to each other and wash each other’s feet. We are to follow the pattern. We are to love one another as Jesus has loved us. We are to live out the love we see in Jesus. Jesus is Our Power The New Commandment is not only our pattern for love of each other, it is our power to love each other as Jesus loved us. In the parallel verse of John 15:12, Jesus says: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” In the next verse (John 15:13), Jesus states the greatest example of loving one another – “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” In the verse after that, Jesus explains how we start out as a servant of “one another” and we end up a friend of Jesus.

You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you (John15:14-15).

How could we ever have the power to love like Jesus? How could we choose to lay down our life for a friend? That will be the subject of a future lesson – John 15. For now, suffice it to say: It has to do with the double abiding – the vine and the branches.

I am the true vine... Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:1-5).

Suffice it to say, for now, the newness of Jesus’ commandment is not only that Jesus is our pattern for love but also is our power for love. Jesus laid down his life for us, us true-believers who are His friends when we “do what [Jesus] commanded [us]” – and that is to love Jesus enough to die to self-love and to follow Him in love. Jesus removed the wrath of God by laying down his life for us.

APPLICATION // …have life in His name.

This “New Commandment” is a new, radical kind of love – the love of the now-glorified Jesus. We true-believers are to love one another – as Jesus loves us (John 13:34-35 & 15:12-13). We can know both the pattern of this radical love and the power of this radical love. Jesus does not say it is by our theological correctness, our moral purity, or impressive knowledge that “all people will know that you are my disciples;” it will be by our “love for one another" (John 13:35). The love that Jesus demonstrates is not based on the merit of the recipients. But the way we love various recipients depends on whether they are enemies, neighbors, or friends-in-Christ. We feed our enemy when he is hungry (Romans 12:20, quoting Proverbs 20:21-22). We love our neighbor as our self (Matthew 19:19 & 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14, and James 2:8, quoting Leviticus 19:18). But when it comes to fellow true believers, we love them the way Jesus has loved us (John 13:13-15, John 13:34-35, 15:12-14). Christ’s love for us is beyond our human comprehension in its actions, but it is available to every believer in Christ, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (“The fruit of the Spirit is ... love.” Galatians 5:22). We have the benefit of living after the Resurrection and Ascension and Pentecost. We have the advantage of the powerful Spirit of Christ living in us. We are to be full of the Spirit (“Be filled with the Spirit” - Ephesians 5:18) so that we can love others as Jesus loves us. Christian love is what sets Christians apart from the rest of the world. It is the monopoly of the Holy Spirit. Can non-believers manifest Christian love? Why? Why not?

Can Christian love be effectively demonstrated by immature true believers? Why or why not?

Can the world differentiate between a baby Christian who acts childishly when it comes to applying Christ’s love and a mature Christian?

How does the world perceive immature Christians and take notice of their actions?

Where are you in your spiritual growth?

PRAYER

Close in prayer, asking God to press this truth that was studied.

COMMENTARY / RESOURCES Zechariah’s Amazing Prophecy of the Betrayal of Christ, by Wayne Jackson, Christian Courier https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/913-zechariahs-amazing-prophecy-of-the-betrayal-of-christ For His Sake and for Your Joy, Go Low, by John Piper, DesiringGod.org https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/for-his-sake-and-for-your-joy-go-low