John 13: 21-38

Reading for 29-Mar-12      John 13:21-38

Jesus begins his Farewell Discourse by reflecting on the exchange of glory between Father and Son. The very essence of God is goodness, mercy, holiness and love. The Glory of God is the revelation of God’s essence. This glory is revealed through the presence of God. God as a burning bush to Moses, as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night for the Israelites during the exodus are examples of God’s Glory. The ultimate expression of God’s Glory is in the life, death and resurrection of our Lord, Christ Jesus.

The Glory of God is meant to be an unbroken circle. God’s glory is shown or revealed to His people and in return His people give glory to God. This responsive glory is expressed in adoration, honor, praise and obedience. The giving of glory to God in a worship service is called doxology. Expressions of doxology are throughout the Psalms and the New Testament and these scriptural expressions inspired two forms of doxology used most often in worship:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below;     Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Latin translation of commandment is also the root of the word mandate. In French the word for mandate is mandé and over time its use within the church was changed into Maundy. The Maundy Thursday service during Holy Week is in remembrance of John 13:34, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Jesus had already affirmed the greatest commandment is to love God and to love your neighbor as you love yourself. The new commandment is “Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

There is no greater doxology than giving ourselves to fulfill this new commandment to love each other as Jesus loves us. May John’s affirmation of Jesus in 13:1 be our inspiration for life:

“He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth,

and now he loved them to the very end.”

The very end refers to the time from Jesus’ Passover meal with the disciples to his death on the cross. What are ways we can love leach other to the very end?

 

What word or phrase in these verses

attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

Reading for 30-Mar-12      John 14:1-24