To God Be the Glory

By Rev. Heidi L. Barham |  May 15, 2022

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Read John 13:31 – 35
 
The verses found in our New Testament lesson this morning are sandwiched between stories that highlight two of Jesus’ disciples. 
 
Just before our text, we read about the Last Supper when Jesus identified Judas as the one who would betray Him… telling Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly” (John 13:27b).
 
While in the verses immediately following our text, we find a conversation taking place between Jesus and Peter… one in which Peter declared his undying loyalty and willingness to lay down his own life for Jesus… to which Jesus responded, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” (John 13:38).  Probably not the response Peter was anticipating…
 
But these two bookends to our text are the key to us gaining an understanding of what all this means for us today as believers, as followers of Christ. 
 
Just as Jesus knows each of us, He was well acquainted with His disciples and was well aware of their flaws and shortcoming.  He knew that the two of them, Judas and Peter, would deny and betray Him and yet He loved them anyhow.
 
Jesus love for them, and for us, is unconditional… and His forgiveness is there for the asking.  Judas did not seem to understand this… which is why his life ended tragically after he realized the magnitude of what he had done… selling Jesus out for a few pieces of silver.
 
Scripture tells us that Judas “was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders” (Matthew 27:3b).  But when the priests and the elders told Judas that it was all his responsibility… it was more than Judas could handle. 
 
Unfortunately for Judas, he could not grasp the depths of Jesus’ love for him and did not understand that forgiveness was available, even for someone like him… so he hanged himself.
 
Peter, on the other hand, did have an understanding of the grace that Jesus extends to us all…  and despite his shortcomings and impetuous nature, the Lord used Peter… all for the glory of God.
 
Previously Jesus had told Peter, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).
 
And Peter, who was part of Jesus’ inner circle, along with James and John, went on to become the recognized leader among the disciples. 
 
Peter preached to the crowds on the day of Pentecost when the Scriptures tell us that roughly three thousand believers were added to the household of faith (see Acts 2:14 – 41). 
 
And Peter continued to spread the Good News wherever he went, even performing miracles in the name of Jesus… all to the glory of God (see Acts 3:1 – 9; Acts 5).
 
And keep in mind, all of that happened AFTER Peter had denied even knowing Jesus… not once, not twice, but three separate times… in fact, he did it all in the same day before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus said he would.
 
But this should actually be reassuring to us… because it lets us know that God can and will use us for His glory, in spite of our past.  
 
Remember, not only did Peter deny Jesus three times just before Jesus was crucified… Peter actually had the audacity to rebuke Jesus for telling the disciples that He would suffer and be killed but be raised again on the third day (see Matthew 16:21 – 22; Mark 8:31 – 32).  And yet, Jesus still called Peter to follow Him (see John 21:19, 21).
 
So what does all that have to do with our text for today you may wonder… well the stories of Judas and Peter set the stage for us in a manner of speaking.  They showcase two ends of the spectrum of what happens when we are open to God’s grace and when we are not.
 
And in order for us to fulfill the commandment that we find in our text for today, we need to understand that we are beneficiaries of God’s grace and we are called to extend that grace to one another… showing love to one another and doing so for the glory of God.
 
Now as we take a closer look at the text, the first two verses reflect who God is, who Jesus is, and who they are in relationship to one another… it is the true glory of God and Jesus that will ultimately be revealed in Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection and ascension.
 
Then the last two verses of our text reflect who we are called to be as believers in Christ and how we are to live in relationship with the Lord and with one another… we are commanded to love one another as Jesus has loved us… and how has He loved us?  By giving His life for us.
 
Looking at verse 34 of the text, Jesus says He is giving us a “new command to love” but hasn’t Jesus already commanded us to love before?  Haven’t we already been told to love our neighbors as we love ourselves? (See Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, 33; Luke 10:27).
 
And haven’t we already been commanded to love our enemies and pray for and do good to those who hate us? (See Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27, 35).
 
So then, what is so new about this command in our text? 
 
It is a command to love not simply the stranger or our enemy, but to love those who are the closest to us… those who are members of the family of believers.
 
This new command is strategically placed in between the stories about the betrayal and denial of Jesus by two of His disciples… those who should have known and loved Him best… but who still committed hurtful acts against the very One whose love for them was limitless.
 
It helps us to see that even in the places and spaces where love should always be the order of the day… we still have the potential and the ability to inflict harm upon one another… especially if we are not intentional in following the example that Jesus set for us.
 
To love one another as Jesus loves us is to live a life that is shaped by the limitless love that brings us closer to God and closer to one another… love that knows no boundaries or restrictions.
 
Jesus said that, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).   But this is not to suggest that we all need to hang up on a cross to show our love for one another.
 
To be clear, to love like Jesus requires a giving “away,” not necessarily a giving “up” of our lives… it is a giving away of ourselves in love and service to others, even in the face of consequences that potentially put us at risk.
 
It is this type of “giving away” of one’s life that was exemplified in the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  He was one who chose to live the love of Jesus fully in his life’s work… despite the high degree of personal risk it involved.  He was someone who put no limits on love as he walked the path laid out for him… understanding that real love does not come without risk.
 
And yet, far too often, those who call themselves “Christians” are unwilling to speak up and speak out on behalf of others because they feel the risk is just too great.  However,  in his sermon entitled, “On Being a Good Neighbor,” we find these words of Dr. King:

  
Now, I think it is fair to say that we are living in a day and time when we have ample opportunities to take a stand on any number of issues for the benefit and welfare of others… everything from reproductive rights and voting rights, to gun violence prevention and antiracism, to the war on poverty and the war in Ukraine… and let’s not even talk about COVID.
 
The fact is, however, that while some people would see these issues as being outside the purview of the church… these are the very issues that call for us “good church folk” to be willing to take a stance.
 
Because at the end of the day, these issues boil down to a common denominator… us having love for one another… respecting one another… caring for the needs of one another… and understanding that when one of us does better we all do better.  As the saying goes, “A rising tide lifts all boats.”
 
As the church, we are in the position of being able to help or to hurt others… our love for one another is a signal to the world that we are Christ’s disciples but our witness to the world is severely diminished if we fail to act in ways that demonstrate that love.
 
Now at the risk of offending someone, I need to remind us that the church, the true church… the body of believers… the followers of Jesus the Christ… the church that Jesus calls us to be… THAT church does not belong to the Democrats or Republicans or Independents… the Liberals or Conservatives or Progressives… but sadly, just like the rest of society that seeks to make everything a matter of politics and partisanship… we have witnessed churches being split along party lines.
 
But the church should not be about left or right.  It should be about keeping Jesus at the CENTER of everything that we say and do.
 
The church that we read about in Acts 2 was not built on a platform that had any basis in political rhetoric.  According to the Scriptures:  
Looking at verses 44 and 45 from the Message Paraphrase we read, “And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.”
 
They were together.  They had all things in common.  They met the needs of others.  They “ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.”
 
And do you know what happened as a result of all that?  “…the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
 
If we want to know why so many churches are seeing a decline in membership and participation, it could very well be that we have lost sight of our true mission and purpose… to live in love and fellowship with one another… to meet the needs of others… and to praise God for His favor which He bestows to ALL people.
 
Looking at John 3:16 we read, “…God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
 
In Romans 3 (22- 23), we read:  
And further down in Romans 10 (12 – 13), we read, “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
 
Is anyone else sensing a theme here? the world, whoever, all, everyone…
 
The church should not bear a resemblance to an exclusive country club… that is not who Jesus calls us to be.
 
The church is supposed to open our doors, our arms and our hearts to one another and create safe spaces and places where everyone feels welcomed… where needs are met… and where God’s limitless love is shared without boundary or restraint. 
 
And we are called to do that all for the glory of God. 
 
And when we do that our hearts will be filled with joy and jubilation… So, let us rejoice as Grateful Praise blesses us with “A Jubilant Song.”
 
Amen.

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