Did Jesus Really Say That? Part 7

John 13:21-38 (NLT) Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and He exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray Me!” 22 The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom He could mean. 23 The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s He talking about?” 25 So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.”  And when He had dipped it, He gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27 When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him.  Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” 28 None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. 29 Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. 30 So Judas left at once, going out into the night. 31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into His glory, and God will be glorified because of Him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, He will give His own glory to the Son, and He will do so at once. 33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer.  And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for Me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment:  Love each other.  Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” 36 Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”  And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with Me now, but you will follow Me later.” 37 “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” He asked.  “I’m ready to die for You.” 38 Jesus answered, “Die for Me?  I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know Me.

John 13:34-35 (NLT) So now I am giving you a new commandment:  Love each other.  Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” 

The one thing that proves we belong to Jesus is our love for one another.

The command to love others wasn’t new, but the standard was. 

How has Jesus loved me?

1.  He loved personally 

John 10:14 (NLT) I am the good shepherd.  I know my own sheep, and they know me. 

2.  He loved patiently 

2 Peter 3:9 (NLT) The Lord isn’t slow about keeping His promise, as some people think.  He is being patient for your sake.  He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.  

3.  He loved humbly 

Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT) Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.  When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 

4.  He loved sacrificially

John 15:13 (NLT) There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

5.  He loved forgivingly 

Luke 23:24 (NLT) Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” 

Jesus isn’t giving us a vague idea or some abstract concept—He’s actually giving us a model to follow.   

Matthew 5:21-22 (NIV) “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”

Matthew 5:27-28 (NIV) “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Romans 5:5 (NKJV) …the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. 

This commandment was given in the real-time context of relational messiness.

1 John 4:7-11 (NLT) Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God.  Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us [first] and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.  

We love like Jesus WHEN we ________.

1.  We love like Jesus when we’re fully present.

If we’re ever going to love like Jesus loved, we need to slow down long enough to actually SEE people—for who they are. 

2.  We love like Jesus when we’re patient (with people’s growth).

Ephesians 4:2 (NLT) Always be humble and gentle.  Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 

Patience is love that’s willing to walk with someone at the speed of their growth instead of the speed of our expectations.

3.  We love like Jesus when we serve others humbly.

Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT) But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different.  Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many." 

Serving others looks like being available, noticing a need, and stepping in without being asked. 

Philippians 2:3-5 (NKJV) Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

"What we are doing is but a drop in the ocean.  This may be only a drop, but the ocean would be less if it weren't there.  What we do is something small, but we do it with big hearts.  At death, we will not be judged by the amount of work we did, but by the amount of love we put into it.  We do not strive for spectacular actions.  What counts is the degree of love you put into each of your deeds...Do you want to be great?  Pick up a broom and sweep the floor.”  —Mother Teresa

4.  We love like Jesus when we forgive completely.

Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” 

Loving like Jesus means offering forgiveness when it’s hard, when it’s undeserved, and even when it hurts.