The New Commandment

John 13:31-38

Turn to John 13 as we continue John’s account of Jesus’ final Passover before His crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus and His disciples are eating the Passover meal in an upper room in Jerusalem. As we have seen from the first part of John13, at this meal in a powerful display of love and humility Jesus washed His disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17). During the meal Jesus identified Judas Iscariot as His betrayer by graciously offering him the honored piece of bread (John 13:26). John tells us at that moment Satan entered into Judas and Jesus told him (John 13:27), “What you do, do quickly.” After those words Judas rose from the table and went out into the dark night to betray the King of Glory.

The departure of Judas sets in motion the events which assure our Lord’s death at the appointed time. Now, alone at last with His true disciples, Jesus speaks more candidly with them than ever before. Judas’ departure now lets Jesus have a very deep and personal ministry to His disciples that starts here and will continue on until the end of John 17.

We begin our lesson today by reading John 13:31-38,

31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.

33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” 37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” 38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

Did you notice the timing of immediacy in this passage? John 13:31 says, “So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.” The word “now” appears four times in these eight verses: (John 13:31, 33, 36 and 37); John 13:32 uses the word, “immediately“; in John 13:33 Jesus says He will be with them, “a little while longer” (verse 33); and “ the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times” (verse 38), meaning that the denial would happen quickly. There is a sense of urgency in the words of Jesus. These will be His final hours with His disciples before His death. These words are like His last will and testament. They are His legacy that He gives to His disciples.

Here at the end of John 13 Jesus give to His disciples a declaration of His glory, a command to love, and a caution against self-confidence.

I. A declaration of Jesus’ glory (John 13:31-32)

John13:31-32, “So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.””

A. The Son of Man is glorified through the cross

John 13:31 reminds us that Judas has just gone out to complete his evil deed of betrayal. “Now” Jesus says, “the Son of Man is glorified.” Judas’ departure has set in motion the final events which will lead to the cross. It is the time to fulfill all that God planned before the foundation of the world through the death of the Son of Man. No longer is Jesus talking about an hour that is coming. Now the Son of Man is glorified.

It was with great intentionality that Jesus referred to Himself as the ‘Son of Man’ (John 13:31). This is a loaded title. Son of Man emphasizes that Jesus is not just the divine Son of God but He is also the incarnate Son of Man. He is a man with flesh and bones. He is one like us.

But ‘Son of Man’ also emphasizes divine sovereignty and glory. The prophet Daniel saw this Son of Man and wrote this:

(Dan. 7:13-14) 13 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

Did you catch the three things that are given to the Son of Man? He is given dominion and glory and a kingdom. He is given rule, splendor, and a people. Now, Jesus says all this will come to pass.

This statement also takes us back to John 12:23, where after hearing that some Greeks were seeking Him, Jesus said, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.” As the context there made clear, Jesus was referring to His death on the cross. The cross glorified both Jesus and His Father (John 12:28). At the cross judgment came upon the world of sin (John 12:31) and the devil was cast out. There Jesus was lifted up and draws all to Himself (John 12:32). This was the glory of the death He would die on the cross (John 12:33).

The context here shows the same thing. Jesus is referring to His death, resurrection and ascension. Twice in this passage Jesus tells His disciples plainly that He is leaving them and “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now.” Jesus must go to the cross alone. It is His crowning glory. It is through the work of Jesus on the cross, through His crucifixion and resurrection that His glory once concealed becomes revealed.

On one level, the cross was the epitome of humiliation and shame. There was no worse way to die than to be stripped naked, flogged, and then nailed to a splintery cross and hung up to suffer a slow death as a public spectacle. But in a greater sense, the cross was the epitome of glory both for the Father and the Son.

“Now”, in his work on the cross, Jesus is glorified. JC Ryle wrote,

The crucifixion brought glory to the Son. It glorified His compassion, His patience, and His power. It showed Him most compassionate, in dying for us, suffering in our stead, allowing Himself to be counted sin and a curse for us, and buying our redemption with the price of His own blood.–It showed Him most patient, in not dying the common death of most men, but in willingly submitting to such horrors and unknown agonies as no mind can conceive, when with a word he could have summoned His Father’s angels, and been set free.–It showed him most powerful, in bearing the weight of all a world’s transgressions, and vanquishing Satan and despoiling him of his prey (Expository Thoughts, Vol 4, 40-41).

Do you want to see the glory of God? Focus on the cross. Do you want to have your soul changed and satisfied by what is eternal and divine? Dwell at the foot of the cross. Through the atoning work of Christ on the cross his glory and his love are revealed.

B. God is glorified in the Son of Man

John 13:31, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.”

Not only does the cross display the glory of the Son of Man, but it also displays the glory of the Father. As Jesus perfectly obeys the will of His Father and as Jesus takes your sin upon Himself God is glorified. Again JC Ryle writes:

The crucifixion brought glory to the Father. It glorified His wisdom, faithfulness, holiness, and love. It showed Him wise, in providing a plan whereby He could be just, and yet the Justifier of the ungodly.–It showed Him faithful, in keeping His promise, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head.–It showed Him holy, in requiring His law’s demands to be satisfied by our great Substitute.–It showed Him loving, in providing such a Mediator, such a Redeemer, and such a Friend for sinful man as His co-eternal Son (Expository Thoughts, Vol 4, 40-41).

The Son is glorified and the Father is glorified in Him, but there’s more.

C. God Himself will glorify the Son of Man

John 13:32 refers to Jesus’ resurrection and ascension: “…If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.”

The cross was the glory of Jesus but there is more to follow. The cross would not be the end. Christ’s resurrection was God’s stamp of approval on Jesus’ death. Jesus’ ascension into heaven exalted Him again to God’s right hand, “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come,” (Eph. 1:21).

The depths of humiliation in the cross are far surpassed by the heights of exaltation when the resurrected Jesus is given His seat of honor at the Father’s right hand. God was glorified through the work of the cross and God is continually glorified as we believe and live the word of the cross.

In his great love and mercy Jesus is preparing his disciples. He wants them to understand the truth concerning the cross and what His priority for them is. So this brings us to His,

II. A new commandment to love (John 13:33-35)

In John 13:33 Jesus states: “Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.’” In this verse we see the tender care of Jesus for His disciples.

Jesus calls His disciples “little children.” This is the only time that this word is used in the Gospels. The only other place it is used in the New Testament is in 1 John, where the apostle whom Jesus loved uses it seven times (2:1, 12, 28; 3:7, 18; 4:4; 5:21). It was a word of tender feelings, much as a father has toward his little children who need his help and protection. It was also common when a father was passing on last wishes to His children. Jesus says here, “I shall be with you a little while longer.” The picture is of a caring father explaining to His children that He has to go away for a while, and they can’t accompany Him. But He promises that they will be reunited later (John 13:36; 14:3). So He is passing His last, and most urgent teachings.

And what is this most important teaching? A new Commandment (John 13:34-35).

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

If you know your Bible you know that there is a sense in which this “new” commandment of our Lord is not entirely new. The Old Testament law could be summed up in two commands: (1) Love God; and (2) Love your neighbor as yourself (see Matthew 22:34-40; Romans 13:8-10). What, then, is so different about our Lord’s command here that He can call it “new”?

What is new about this commandment?

A. It was given to the church.

First, we should note that it is a command given by our Lord to the church, and not a command given to Israel. It is truly a New Covenant commandment. This very night Jesus had taught the disciples about the New Covenant in His blood that would be shed for them (Luke 22:20). In this sense, it is the first of the “new commandments” that our Lord will give to the church through His apostles.

B. It was to love one another.

Second, this command is specifically directed toward the disciples and their relationship with one another. This command does not address the love that we have for the world of unbelievers, although Jesus does command that elsewhere (see Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 12:17-21). They are to love one another. “One another” takes us back back to the lesson of foot washing. Jesus told them (John 13:14), “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” It is a special love that we have for our brothers and sisters in Christ that we demonstrate through humble service. He gave us this example of love and he expects us to love one another like that.

C. It was to love as Jesus loved us.

The most important “new” dimension to our Lord’s command here is the standard which He sets for the love He requires: “as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” It is one thing to love one another as we love and care for ourselves. It is a vastly greater thing to love as Jesus loved us. His is a love that gives up His own life for others. Later this night Jesus will say to them (John 15:13), “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” The sacrificial work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary is the “new” standard for the Christian’s love for fellow-believers.

Christians cherish one another. Christians love one another. Christians serve one another. Christians love one another. Christians are committed to one another. Christians love one another. Christians seek to do good to one another and honor one another and encourage one another and bear one another’s burdens. Christians love one another. Christians correct one another and provide for one another. Christians love one another just like Jesus loves us.

D. It was to be a love that witnesses to all.

Jesus said in verse 35, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

“All” speaks of all people both Christian and non-Christian; those who belong to God and those that don’t. As we love one another others will recognize that we belong to Jesus.

John comments on this in his first letter:

[1 John 2:9-10] 9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

[1 John 3:10-11] 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor [is] he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,

[1 John 3:14] 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love [his] brother abides in death.

[1 John 3:16] 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.

[1 John 3:23] 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

[1 John 4:7-11] 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Do you love the church? If not, why do you think you’re a Christian? Are you willing to give your all for the good of your faith family?

So Jesus has shared a declaration of His glory, a new commandment to love one another and now He gives,

III. A caution about self-confidence (John 13:36-38)

Let’s read again what happens next.

Peter is hung up on the fact that Jesus just told him that he can’t go where Jesus goes. This self-confident disciple is sure that he can—even to death! But Jesus has just told him to his face the same thing He told the unbelieving Jews, “Where I am going you cannot come.” Peter is confronted with his inability and he doesn’t like it. So he responds with a question in verse 36, “Lord, where are You going?”

Notice that Jesus doesn’t respond by telling him where Jesus is going; that’s not the issue. Jesus says, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” While Peter thought that he was fully committed to Jesus and in many ways, he was, his failure stemmed from not recognizing his own weakness. Trusting in his own loyalty rather than in the Lord set him up for his colossal failure.

Peter then questions Jesus (John 13:37), “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”

Jesus questions Peter on his arrogant claim and then prophesies that Peter would deny the Lord before the night is over (John 13:38), “Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.””

I only point this out here today to say this. Don’t arrogantly claim that you are going to fulfill this commandment and love everyone like Jesus did. You cannot do it in your own strength, just as Peter could not keep His boast. Peter is trying to convince himself and Jesus that he’ll do whatever it takes to follow Jesus. But “whatever it takes” is about to happen, and it is Jesus himself who will do it. Peter vows to lay down his life for Jesus, but it is Jesus who is going to lay down His life for Peter (John 15:13-14). That’s what it takes for Peter – and us – to follow Jesus.

There is only one way you can love others in this way. It must be the love of Jesus Christ flowing through you to others. Christ must live in you through His Holy Spirit. You are to be His hands, His feet and His voice of love to the world.

Jesus restates this New Commandment John 15 and makes the meaning clear (John 15:12-13) “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Yes. And how do we love like that? John 15:9, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.”

We don’t love one another just by imitating the love of Christ. We love one another by participating in the love of Christ, abiding in His love. Our love is a manifestation of His love in us.

Is the love of Christ in you?