JOHN 13:18-38 FINAL LESSONS FROM JESUS2020 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: John 13:18-38 Final Lessons From Jesus

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2020. Sorry, not John chapter 3, John chapter 13, excuse me. We are reading through the Bible in three years, and yesterday we read the first half of John chapter 13. Today's assigned reading was the second half, and so we'll be looking at verses 18 through 38.

It's just after that famous passage where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples there in the upper room.

And immediately following that, there's some very important things that the Lord shares with his disciples and important lessons for us to take away from it as we kind of get an eavesdrop on their conversation, on his final instructions and words to his disciples. And so let's jump into John chapter 13. First of all, looking at verses 18 through 22, here's what it says. I do not speak concerning all of you,

I know whom I have chosen, but that the scripture may be fulfilled, he who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am he. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. When Jesus had said these things, he was troubled in spirit.

and testified and said, Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray me. Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom he spoke. Here, as we jump into John chapter 13, we are with Jesus and his disciples in the upper room. It's that room that we refer to where Jesus had his last meal with his disciples before his crucifixion.

In this last meal, it's an important meal because, well, of course, this is where Jesus is going to institute the Lord's Supper and the communion table that we partake of when we are able to gather together. But that's instituted here at this meal, which is also going to be on the same night in which Judas betrays Jesus.

And so tonight, after this meal, is going to get really intense as they go to the Garden of Gethsemane and spend time in prayer, but then Jesus will be arrested and the trials will begin and continue all night. And the rest of the book of John really focuses in on these final hours of the Lord. And the next couple chapters really focus in on the final moments that Jesus has with his disciples.

Pastor Warren Wiersbe points out that John chapter 13 through 17, he says, is our Lord's farewell message to his beloved disciples. And so we're kind of really focusing in, in this chapter and the next couple of chapters on those hours, those moments that the Lord spent with his disciples. And so I've titled the message for this evening, Final Lessons from Jesus. And

And as you could imagine, you know, in those final moments, in those final hours that the Lord has with his disciples, the things that he shared are important and crucial. And so they're important and crucial for us to pay attention to as well. And they're working their way towards the institution of communion. But before that takes place, before the official Passover meal really begins,

begins, there's an issue that must be dealt with. And so Jesus here begins to address the subject of his betrayal and that it would take place from someone who was within their midst. And so we're going to walk through this passage and look at five lessons in these final lessons from Jesus that can minister to us and help us understand what the Lord desires from us as we see his instruction to his disciples.

But starting in verses 18 through 20, we get the first point this evening, and that is Jesus speaks for a reason. He speaks to you, rather, for a reason. Jesus speaks. He gives instruction here in this passage. And as he's speaking to his disciples, there's a very particular important reason and outcome that Jesus is looking for as he shares these things. Look again at verse 18 and 19. He says, I do not speak concerning all of you,

Jesus here makes it clear why he is sharing these things with his disciples.

He lets them know about a betrayer. He lets them know that there is going to be a betrayal. It's going to come from within their own group. It's going to be quite a shock when it happens. But Jesus also goes on to clarify, here's why I'm telling you this. Now, as he gives them the instruction about these things,

He makes sure to understand, or he makes sure they understand. I'm not talking about all of you when I'm sharing the things that I'm sharing in the previous verses. If you back up a little bit in John chapter 13, Jesus says in verse 13, you call me teacher and Lord, and you say, well, for so I am.

And as he's interacting with his disciples, again, these are his final hours, and there's really, you know, important and personal and powerful things that he seeks to impart to them. But at the same time, he's calling out a distinction and saying, I'm sharing these things with you, but not really all of you, because there's one in our midst that's not actually one of us. He says, you call me teacher and Lord, and that's true, except for one of the disciples.

That was not actually true. For Judas Iscariot, he called Jesus teacher, he called Jesus Lord, but Jesus was not actually his teacher or Lord. It reminds us of a warning that Jesus gave in Matthew chapter 7 verse 22, looking at the final day when we stand before God. He says, many will say, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name and done wonders in your name and

The Lord said, depart from me. I never knew you. There are many who say, Lord, Lord, who will not enter into the kingdom of God. And Judas was one of those. And so Jesus, in looking at this and talking to his disciples, kind of highlights and calls out, there's a difference. Most of you, you know, we're on the same page. We're on board. You believe in me. I'm your teacher. I'm your Lord. But I'm not talking to all of you because there's one amongst us who is...

not a believer in me. Now, Jesus also points out in verse 18, he says that the scripture may be fulfilled. And here he's quoting from the Psalm of David, Psalm 41 verse 9. David said, even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

And so Jesus, paralleling the life of David in many ways, here says, there's someone really close to me who has decided to betray me. He

He's eaten my bread. We've broken bread together. We're close. We're friends. You know, we have a real relationship together. And yet there is going to be this betrayal that happens. And so Jesus here points out that this was foretold in the scriptures, not just to say, you know, hey, this was talked about before. But here Jesus is wanting to and seeking to establish in his disciples and understanding that,

This is going to take place, and when it happens, well, you can rest assured that God is still at work, that it's not defeating or disrupting the plan of God. Again, in verse 19, he says, I tell you before it comes that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am he. Jesus says, look, I'm telling you this thing in advance for an important reason.

I want you to know about it in advance. Look, the scriptures speak about it. I have told it to you so that when it comes to pass, well, you won't, you know, mistakenly think that God's plan is falling apart.

You won't mistakenly think that it's up to you to fix it or to, you know, reverse the course that has been set. No, this is part of what has been foretold and God knows about it. And Jesus says, and I've told you about it so that when it happens, then it will strengthen your faith that you can believe in me.

Now, I think this is important to consider for a few reasons. First of all, for the strengthening of our faith and the Lord speaks to us, you know, so that we can see these things come to pass. And when you look at prophecy in the scripture, it's important to recognize that many times prophecy is not meant to really warn you about the future, but so that after it happens, you can look back and see this is the Lord speaking and God has established his plans and purposes and will accomplish them.

But also, I think Jesus is pointing this out. He wants them to know and understand that I'm telling you these things not because I want you to investigate and discover who the betrayer is going to be,

He tells them the reason why he's giving them this insight, and it's not so they can go figure it out and try to put a stop to it. They're not to investigate and examine the 12 disciples. All right, we're going to put you in an interrogation room, each one, and here's our system. Here's how we're going to figure out who the betrayer is. Jesus is not telling them these things for them to go try to figure out

the solution or the answer or resolve the mystery that is who is the betrayer.

He also is not telling them these things so that they could mount up a defense team, you know? And so, all right, let's, all right, you know, John and Peter, Andrew, right, you know, turn your fishing rods into bow staffs and we're going to stand guard around the Lord. Nobody's coming to him and he's not going to be attacked or betrayed. And Jesus is not telling them that there is this betrayer so that they, you know, would set up this defense team.

He's not trying to set them on a path, a course of action. He's trying to establish their faith so that when these things come to pass, then you can rest in the truth that I knew all along. It's part of the plan of God. It's part of the work of God. Commentator F.B. Meyer says, this treachery foreseen by Christ was transformed into a support of the disciples' faith.

When the incident took place, as predicted, they knew that Jesus was all that he had declared himself to be. When it was fulfilled, and probably not immediately, right? Not immediately when Judas betrayed Jesus, then they thought, oh, right, great, I have great faith now. But later on, looking back, they were able to, oh, wow, recognize Jesus.

The Lord really did know. This really was part of his plan. And it demonstrates the character and nature of our Lord in an incredible way. It demonstrates the plan of God, the purposes of God, and it would increase their faith and give them a boldness to trust and to rest in God as a result. And so here are the points that I wrote down for myself is that Jesus speaks to you for a reason.

That is, he speaks, and he does speak, and he does lead, he does put things upon our hearts, and I would encourage you to consider that when the Lord speaks to you, it's also appropriate to investigate with the Lord, to inquire of the Lord. Now, what is the purpose of

for this revelation? What is the reason for this insight that you're giving me, Lord? Because we might jump to the conclusion, the Lord showed me this so that I could mount up a defense team, and God's saying, no, that's not why I'm showing you that. Or the Lord's showing me this so that I can go investigate and figure out. And we can sometimes take a little bit of a scripture or a word from the Lord or something that God's impressed upon our hearts and take

take the wrong course with it if we don't allow the Lord to guide us in how to apply that word that he is giving to us. Notice the focus that Jesus applies in verse 20. He says, most assuredly I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.

As Jesus is talking about this betrayer, he's revealing why he's sharing these things with him. He's saying, look, listen to me. What's important is that you receive me because when you receive me, you receive the Father. And if you receive whoever I send, well, then you're receiving me and then you're also receiving the Father, that there is this relationship and this connection. And the focus really needs to be on receiving the Lord and his purposes and his plans and

and what he wants and what he desires. And so this evening, I would encourage you to consider, what has the Lord been speaking to you about? What has the Lord put upon your heart? What are some words that God has given to you? And to make sure that you take some time to evaluate the purpose and give God an opportunity to show you what he wants you to do

with that insight? What does he want you to do with those exhortations that he's given you, or that word of knowledge, or, you know, that prophetic insight that he has revealed to you, that it's not just for you to use however you think, or, you know, come up with your best plan, but

but he has a purpose for it. Jesus speaks to you for a reason. Let him show you. Let him guide the way on how to use what it is that he's revealing to you. Well, moving on to verses 21 through 30, we get the second point for this evening, and that is that Jesus gives opportunity to change. This is a powerful thing to consider as you think about the betrayal of Judas.

and how long he was with Jesus, and the moments they must have shared, and the closeness that was there, and the shock that it would be to the disciples. And yet here in this passage, in this final few moments before Judas goes to really make the final arrangements for Jesus to be arrested,

Jesus here is still extending grace and kindness. I mean, if you think about earlier in John chapter 13, Judas was one of the men there that Jesus washed his feet. And then here in these verses we'll see here, Jesus continues to show kindness and love. And really you can understand that Jesus was giving Judas grace.

an opportunity to change up until the very last moment when he made the final decision. No, I'm not going to do it. I'm going to go and betray the Lord to the religious leaders. Verse 21 says, Here, the Lord says,

says, one of you is going to betray me. He says, most assuredly, you can count on it. But as Jesus is sharing this, it tells us and gives us a little bit of insight into his humanity in verse 21, that he is troubled in his spirit. I wonder which part of the situation troubled Jesus.

Was it a personal trouble in the sense of, man, I can't believe I'm going to be betrayed. I can't believe I'm going to be hurt this way. I can't believe, you know, it's so troubling how much this is going to hurt the betrayal that's about to take place. Was he troubled on behalf of

of judas was he troubled because oh it would hurt the fact that judas would be lost the fact that judas would turn away what was it that troubled jesus we don't have the specific detail given to us but we do see that he was troubled i would consider jesus there hanging upon the cross saying father forgive them

And as he prayed that prayer, do you think it included Judas? Did he still love Judas? Did he still desire for Judas to be saved? We know the scriptures teach that God is not willing that any should perish.

Is it any except for Judas? It seems that the Lord here was troubled, not just because of what he was about to experience personally, not just because of his own pain or agony or betrayal, but troubled over the situation, troubled over the lost heart of Judas. And so here Jesus is troubled, and he says,

He can't hold it in. He says, I got to share with you something, guys, because I'm really troubled right now. Someone is going to betray me. Not just someone, but one of you. One of you will betray me. And Jesus doesn't name Judas here, but he could have. It tells us a few chapters earlier in John 6, verse 64, Jesus is speaking to his disciples. He says, there are some of you who do not believe.

for Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe and who would betray him. The betrayal of Judas was not like a complete shock to Jesus. It wasn't something that, you know, okay, I know there's going to be one of them, one of these 12. I don't know which one it is. Seems like it's going to be Peter probably because he makes, you know, all these mistakes. And so maybe Jesus had his eyes on Peter. No, no, no. From the very beginning,

When Jesus spent all night in prayer and then selected his 12 disciples, from the very beginning, Jesus knew who would betray him. He knew that Judas would do this. And yet it's so interesting that Jesus then walks with Judas for three and a half years.

and sends him out with the rest of the disciples to work miracles, and imparts upon him wisdom and truth, and teaches him, and spends time with him, and invests in him just like he does in the rest of the disciples. The relationship that Jesus had with Judas was so similar to the other disciples that none of them had any suspicion that it was Judas who would betray. In verse 22, it says that they looked at each other perplexed,

They're all confused. This is like unthinkable. They know each other so well. They've been together for so long. They're such a tight-knit group and such a solid team. How could one of us betray Jesus? It seemed unthinkable. It seemed impossible from the perspective of the disciples. But from the beginning, Jesus knew. And yet he still loved Judas and walked with Judas and taught with Judas and

up to the very end, gave him opportunity to change, to turn, to not go through with the betrayal. Now, as the disciples are a little bit confused, they do want to figure out who it is that Jesus is talking about. And so verse 23 tells us, now there was leaning on Jesus's bosom, one of his disciples whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask him who it was of whom he spoke.

And so here, what John is describing here is the disciples around the table having the meal or about to partake in the Passover meal.

And the way that they would arrange themselves around the table, they didn't have a high table with chairs like we have. The table was low to the ground and they would recline, oftentimes laying on their stomach or their side, oftentimes with their left hand holding up their head and then they would eat with their right hand. And so that would put them in a position and John was in the position where Jesus was right behind him. And so he could kind of just lean back upon Jesus. And Peter motions to John and says, John, John, ask, ask.

Ask Jesus, who's he talking about? We need to figure out who this betrayer is. And so verse 25, he says, leaning back on Jesus's breasts, he said to him, Lord, who is it? And Jesus answered, it is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it. And having dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. So John asked Jesus very clearly, who is it? Jesus, he said,

Gives a clear answer, but he also doesn't name Judas. He says, okay, here's how you can know. The one that I give this bread after I've dipped it.

Now, the dipping of the bread was a kind of a ceremonial type thing for them. And to give the dipped piece of bread to someone, it was a declaration of honor or bestowing of honor. It was like a special treat that was given to someone.

You can maybe think of it like if you were to give a toast. Like, hey, I want to give a toast and just recognize this person and say thank you for what you've done and who you are. That kind of honor and esteem was what it was for the dipping of the bread to be given. And so Jesus here does this token really of honor to Judas, even though Judas was not honorable.

even though he knew what Judas was about to do, he gives Judas, he extends kindness to Judas, even in these last few moments before Judas betrays Jesus.

Now, it seems like that Jesus, in his answer to John, may not have spoken up in a way that all of the disciples could hear. And maybe it was primarily John who, you know, heard this. And so the rest of the disciples didn't catch on. Maybe John caught on. But as we can see in the next couple of verses, verse 28 and 29, they didn't know that it was Judas. And verse 29,

27, we've got to hit that one first. It says, now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him, and Jesus said to him, what you do, do quickly. And this was really Judas's last chance, his last opportunity. And it was a moment of kindness that the Lord expressed love and care and kindness to Judas with the passing of this bread. And as Judas accepted it, he received the

The bread that Jesus extended to him, the kindness that Jesus extended to him, and his heart remained hard and said, I'm going to betray Jesus. And so in this position of hardness of heart, it tells us that Satan entered him. And now things are different. Now he's had his chance to turn. He's had his opportunity. Now Satan has entered him and Jesus says, all right, go do what you must do quickly.

And so he heads out in verse 30, having received the piece of bread, he went out immediately and it was night. Judas heads out because now he's on a mission. He's out to go meet with the religious leaders to make the deal and to lead them to Jesus to be arrested. Meanwhile, the other disciples are still perplexed.

They're really confused about what's going on. In verse 28, it says, but no one at the table knew for what reason he said this to him. When Jesus said, what you do, do quickly, the disciples, they're confused. They don't understand. What does that mean? Whatever you do, do quickly. Now it gives us some insight about some possibilities in verse 29. Some thought because Judas had the money box that Jesus had said to them,

buy those things that we need for the feast, or that he should give something to the poor. The disciples are kind of making up things in their head, like, oh yeah, probably Jesus had an errand for him. He had to go, you know, give a donation. He had to go buy some food. He had to go do something, some task, some errand. You know, Judas is always about those errands, and so Jesus sent him out, and that's what they were thinking. They were thinking that. They were still confused. They were still perplexed. Why? Why?

Because, well, Jesus was still treating Judas with kindness and care and love so that the disciples couldn't distinguish between the treatment of Judas and the treatment of themselves from the Lord. Something interesting to consider. Pastor Warren Wiersbe says, up to the very hour of his treachery, Judas was protected by the Savior whom he betrayed.

Had Jesus openly revealed what he knew about Judas, it is likely that the men would have turned on him. Judas was protected by the Lord. He knew that Judas would betray him. And yet Jesus did not let that out. He didn't let the others in on that up until right this moment when he hands them the piece of bread. But even then, the disciples, they didn't quite get it. They didn't understand. They weren't thinking and suspecting Judas.

So even though Judas was about to betray the Lord in this way and about to bring about the arrest and trial of Jesus, what we see in all this interaction is up until the very end, Jesus is giving Judas opportunity. Scriptures tell us that it's the kindness of the Lord that leads us to repentance. It's his kindness towards us that gives us opportunity and that inclines us to repent.

So that when the Lord shows us kindness, we're kind of like, you know, being pulled in. Like, yes, okay, I want to repent. I want to respond to the Lord in that way. And to resist that, we have to harden our hearts. We have to purposely push away from the Lord and resist the Lord. And Judas, as he continued to do that, hardened his heart to the point now that he heads out. He's ready to betray the Lord to the religious leaders.

This is an important thing to consider for two reasons. One reason is because, well, there's people around us who betray the Lord or who will betray us. And we have the opportunity to be like the Lord and to give opportunity to change, to show kindness. Jesus here sets us an example.

Now, this doesn't mean that we follow this exactly in every scenario. There's different situations and different scenarios where the Lord wants you to behave in different ways. But the principle remains that the Lord cares about people, even those who will hurt him, even those who will fight against him, even those who hate him, that the Lord cares for them and still will seek to make opportunity available

for there to be a reconciliation. It's a good example for us, a good reminder for us. And we'll see that even further as Jesus gives the instruction to love one another, that there is a need for us to care for one another in that way, to love people. And in the midst of all that's happening in the world around us, I think it's an important reminder of how we are to relate to, even those who would seek our harm,

Now, again, I'm not trying to say put yourself in harm's way or let people harm you, but there are occasions where we need to be able and willing to allow the injury, to allow especially the insults, you know, that we would allow and show kindness even to those who seek our harm in order to give opportunity for change, in order to represent the Lord and behave like him.

But another reason to consider this, an important thing to think about as we look at this example of Judas, is for our own selves. And recognizing that, you know, there are those who fit in so well within the group of believers, within the group of disciples, that it's indiscernible to others around and maybe even to ourselves, where we're at with the Lord. And if we are walking with the Lord or if we're just fitting in with the crowd.

The commentator H.A. Ironside says, when one considers the privileges that Judas had enjoyed and realizes how little impression they made upon his heart and mind and what the final result was, these things might well cause each one of us individually to examine ourselves and search our hearts in the presence of God.

Think about all that Judas experienced, all the privilege that he had, all the insight that he received from the Lord. Boy, there's a great opportunity, a great reminder, a great need for us to examine our hearts. Make sure we're not, you know, just skipping over the things that the Lord is saying. Make sure that we're not belittling or, you know, not absorbing and applying the things that God is speaking to us, but that we would truly believe in him and seek him

His will and his purposes for our life. Well, that kind of leads us now into the next few verses, verse 31 and 32. Here's point number three, and that is God must be glorified. God must be glorified. Above all else, this is the most important thing. In verse 31, it says, 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 in

immediately. Here we find the most important thing. As Judas heads out to betray Jesus, he bursts out in this exclamation of, well, the glory of God. Notice the amount of glory here in these verses. In verse 31, he says, now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him.

And if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and glorify him immediately. This is all about glory, weight, being lifted up and exalted. And here Jesus is saying, this betrayal that's about to happen is going to result in, now the end has begun really,

There's no turning back now. Here we go. We're in that final stage and God is going to be glorified. I'm going to glorify him. He's going to glorify himself through me and in me. Here Jesus highlights what is most important right now. Remember going back a few verses, it tells us that Jesus was troubled in his spirit, but he wasn't moved from his mission. It's not that the betrayal of Jesus had no effect on Jesus at all.

It's not that he didn't care and he had no feelings about it, no emotions about it. He didn't have any passion about it or, you know, he just was completely unmoved. No, he was moved by the betrayal, by the break in the relationship, but he was unmoved from his mission. No matter how he felt, no matter how troubled his spirit was, here's the important thing. God must be glorified.

The cross, the events of the cross were about to unfold. And as Jesus looked at that, he said, this is the glorifying of God. Even though it was going to involve the humiliation of Jesus, it was the glorifying of God. And he says, the Father is going to glorify himself in me. And even in the midst of the humiliation and the sacrifice,

God would be glorified. His plans would be exalted and he would be lifted on high. Here Jesus again sets the model for us. What's most important in the midst of the situations that we face is that God must be glorified. God must be glorified. Yes, we might be very troubled. Our spirits and our hearts and our minds might be very troubled over the events that are happening right now all around us.

But the most important thing to us needs to be God must be glorified. Pastor Warren Wiersbe says, this is the way all of us glorify God, by faithfully doing what he calls us to do. In our Lord's case, the Father's will was that the son die for lost sinners, be raised from the dead, and then ascend to heaven. That was the most important thing. That was the mission. That was Jesus's faithfulness to the Father.

In a similar way, we all have our mission. We all have our tasks. We all have what the Lord has for us. And you know, sometimes we get distracted by what we want. We get distracted by our will. We get distracted by how we feel. We get distracted by, you know, our emotions and what troubles us. We get distracted by the things of this life and we lose sight of what glorifies God.

Sometimes we make statements like, well, God would want me to be happy. And we use that to justify, you know, some sin or condition in our life. And the most important thing is not that I'm happy. The most important thing is that God must be glorified. And I would encourage you to consider, is that the driving force? Is that what holds you to the course of faithfulness to the Lord? God must be glorified.

I'm going to go through some troubling things. I'm going to feel some ways about it. There's going to be things that happen to me around it, but God must be glorified. I need to be faithful to serve the Lord, to honor Him, to exalt Him above all else.

Well, moving on to verses 33 through 35, here we get the Lord's direct instruction to his disciples. And here's point number four, and that is you must love like Jesus. In verse 33, he says, little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek me. And as I said to the Jews where I'm going, you cannot come. So now I say to you, a new commandment I give to you.

that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.

Here, Jesus begins to prepare his disciples for his departure. I'm going away, guys. And for the next few chapters, you're going to see that a lot. The Lord is preparing him. I'm going away, guys. I'm, you know, just want you to know you need to be prepared. I'm not going to leave you alone. I'm going to send the Holy Spirit. I'm not going to leave you without peace. My peace I give to you, right? Over the next few chapters, we're going to see this. But now as he begins this preparation for his departure, he's going to say,

He says, here's the command that I want you to have in mind, that I want you to be thinking about, that I want you to have first of all in preparation for my departure, and that is that you love one another. Now, he calls it a new commandment.

But it wasn't actually a new commandment in that it was, you know, just then invented and had never been expressed before. The word new that's used there can be a refreshed kind of thing. It's a new in insight and in example because what Jesus says here is to love one another as I have loved you. And so the command is new because previously, yes, love your neighbor as yourself was the command.

But now Jesus refreshes that command and says, it's not just love your neighbor as yourself. It's love your neighbor and love one another as I have loved you. And I am setting for you an example of love and demonstration of love. And this is the model for you to follow in relating to one another. A new commandment I give to you that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

How does Jesus love you? Jesus says, follow that pattern. Look at how much I love you. Look at how I demonstrate my love to you. And then practice that same kind of love. Practice that same pattern of love to one another, to the people around you, to other believers in your life. Later on, the Apostle John will write this in 1 John 3. He says, by this we know love, because he laid down his life for us.

It's a really challenging concept to think about the love that Christ has for us and to consider how we are to have that kind of love towards others.

And in this letter, 1 John 3, he says, here's how we know what love is. Because he loved us and he laid down his life for us.

And so then in comparison, how can it be that, well, I love you, but I'm not willing to give up anything of my own. I'm not willing to sacrifice at all. I'm not willing to, you know, have any expense. I'll love you with my leftovers. You know, that's the extent of my love. That's not how the Lord loved us. And so he says, look, we can look at the example of the Lord and see how we are to love.

We can see that. And so we need to be considering this command to love, to love like Jesus. Now, love is not just sacrificing or giving things or, you know, taking away from myself to give to someone else. But love means to desire what is best for someone. Jesus gave his life because that's what was best for us.

It wasn't just the fact that he sacrificed himself or that he gave his life for us, but he gave his life for us because that's what was best for us. That's what we needed the most to accomplish God's purpose in our lives. In a similar way, as we look at this idea of loving one another, the idea is not so much that we don't own anything because we give it all away because we love everybody so much. No, it's really that I look at you and I say, I really want what's best for you. And whatever it costs me,

to help you achieve God's plan and purposes for your life, it's worth it because I love you and I want God's best for you. And so if I have something that can contribute to that, if I'm able to participate in that work, then I'm willing to give to you because I love you and I want God's best for you. Love allows for love.

It allows for protection. It allows for discipline. It allows for defense. Love is not about retaliation. It's always about what is best. And so there can be, yes, discipline. There can be instruction and firmness and even saying no. And those kinds of, love involves all of that. But love is not in itself the giving or the sacrifice. Love is the seeking what is best.

with the eternal perspective for the person that you love. Look for God's best for them. Seek out God's best for them. Jesus says, this is how you're to relate to one another. The people around you, the people that you're relating to, the people that the Lord has you in contact with, seek God's best for them. And even if it costs you,

for them to grow, to go forward in what it is that God has for them. Be willing to pay the price. And if it costs you your life, that's, well, perhaps something that God would lay before you. And that is a possibility in the same way that he laid that before Jesus. That this is an opportunity for us to look at the people around us and say, I love you, and express it and demonstrate it with love.

sacrifice with cost, saying, I want what's best for you. I want you to experience God's best in your life. H.A. Ironside says, may we not well challenge ourselves and each one ask the question in his or her own heart. How have I answered to this command of my Savior? Am I characterized by love for my brethren in Christ? Jesus said in verse 35, by this all will know you are my disciples and

If you have love for one another. It's not that everybody's going to know that you're a disciple of Jesus because you always tell everybody how much you love them. No, but it's the world will know that we're his disciples because we're willing to sacrifice. We're willing to give at our own expense. We're always looking out for the best for those around us.

And so this is the defining characteristic, the Lord says, of our discipleship, of our following of Jesus. We must love like Jesus. We must care for people enough to want God's best for them, even if it costs us, even if they're the ones who betraying us, even if they're the ones who have hurt us or harmed us. We must love like Jesus and be willing to give of ourselves, to give at our own expense.

to help others experience the best that God has for them. Well, finally, verses 36 through 38, here's the fifth point for us to consider this evening, the fifth lesson from Jesus in these final hours, and that is that Jesus knows you and still loves you. This is an important lesson as well. Verse 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.'"

Peter said to him, Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for your sake. 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. And thinking about the love of the Lord and the willingness that he had for our good to sacrifice himself, Peter said,

He kind of thought that he was there. He kind of thought that he was at that same level, at that same place, that he had that kind of love for the Lord. He says, look, why can't I follow you now? Where are you going that I can't follow you? No, no, I'm with you, Jesus. Me and you, we're together. I'm going to follow you and I'm going to be faithful. And even if it costs me my life, he says, I will lay down my life for your sake. Peter's convinced. He is willing to

And he's able to love the Lord even to the degree where it would cost his life. And he would be faithful. He's persuaded. He's convinced. The Lord says, is that true, Peter? Will you lay down your life for my sake? Now, later on, Peter will. He will die for the Lord on behalf of the Lord and in his testimony of Jesus. But he's not there yet. So Jesus tells him, before the rooster crows,

You're going to deny me three times. You're going to announce, you're going to declare, you don't know me, that you're not with me, that you don't love me. You testify right now, I love you, Lord, and I'm with you. And that's easy to do right here in this environment, but you're going to be out in a different environment and you're going to be tested in this declaration that you've made. And you're going to find yourself unfaithful, denying me, denying that you ever knew me,

even calling down curses upon yourself if you ever knew me. Pastor David Guzik says, poor Peter. He would have died for Jesus right then, but he later failed because his devotion was based on emotion. Emotion is vital to the Christian walk, but it can't be its power or foundation. There's no doubt. Peter meant it when he said it. He really thought he could and he would die for the Lord right when he said that. He wasn't just putting on a show. That's

not Peter's style. He believed it. He felt that way, but the way he felt wasn't accurate to reality. It wasn't accurate to the way that it was. Instead, he didn't understand. He didn't realize. He didn't have the foundation, the power to carry out that kind of devotion to the Lord, and yet the Lord knew that, and he still loved Peter. This is one of the cases where the break in the chapter is

might be misleading for us as we read through these passages. Because as you head on into the next verse in chapter 14, the very next thing Jesus goes on to say is, let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. Jesus did not tell Peter this so that his heart would be troubled. He says, no, no, let not your heart be troubled.

I'm not telling you this to be, so you'd be bothered by it or troubled by it. Like you're weak and you think you're strong. You're going to deny me three times in another portion, he says, but after you've returned, after you've been sifted like wheat, then strengthen your brethren. Like the Lord knew what Peter was going to go through. He knew he was going to come back in strength, in the strength of the Lord, and then be able to strengthen his brethren. He knew, right?

And he comforts Peter and the rest of the disciples. He says, look, I am going away, but don't let your heart be troubled. You are going to fail, and you're going to deny me, and all of you guys are going to split and run away whenever, you know, the going gets tough. But don't let your heart be troubled. You're going to fail. You're going to have weakness. You're going to experience frailty. And even where you're convinced, and you can't even imagine, I don't think I could ever fail in that way. I don't think I could ever, you know, betray the Lord to that degree. No, you still might.

But don't let your heart be troubled. Don't let the enemy persuade you and convince you that means you're never saved or that you don't love the Lord. Our flesh is weak. Later on in the garden, the Lord's gonna instruct Peter because he's sleeping when he should be praying. He says, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. That's part of our reality. Like Peter, we can be full of emotion and be convinced that we're in a different place than we actually are. And that way,

It is a goodness of God for him to allow those failures to take place in our life, that we can be awakened to the reality, that we would not live in the fantasy that we've built in our mind of who we are, who we think we are, the strength that we think we have, how spiritual we think we are. And we need to be reminded from time to time. And the Lord allows us to experience those failures.

Not so that then he could beat us down and we could be troubled and he could just kind of gleefully look at us wallowing in our guilt, you know, not for any of that. But it's good for us to be reminded of how much we need God and his grace and his strength and for us to rely upon him and not our own strength, for us to rely upon what he says and not our own perception of ourselves or the things happening around us. I'm weak. I'm frail. I fall short.

Sometimes I forget that, but the Lord never does. And even though he knows the worst about you, even though he knows the failures that are yet to happen and the ways you might deny him, he still loves you. And he doesn't want your heart to be troubled. Believe in him, he says. Believe in, just trust in me. Come back to me. Ask me for forgiveness. Ask me for help. I'm building you a mansion. I'm preparing for you. I'm not giving up on you. I'm preparing for eternity with you.

He knows us fully through and through, and he still loves us. He's still preparing eternity for us. And so here in John chapter 13, we got some very important and encouraging final lessons from Jesus. Jesus speaks to you for a reason. He does speak to you.

He does have insight for you and have instruction for you, but don't just jump to conclusions and go chase out, you know, what you think the Lord's giving you that information for. Continue to inquire of him. Let him give you clarity. Knowledge, you know, is knowing things, but wisdom is then applying that knowledge. And we need both. We need a word of wisdom along with the word of knowledge so that we have insight from the Lord how to carry out

what it is that he's showing to us and speaking to us about. Jesus gives opportunity to change. He continues to show kindness. Don't mistake his kindness for his acceptance and that he's okay with a sinful lifestyle. That's not the way that it works, but he does continue to show kindness that you and I might have opportunity to turn

and to get right with him. Let Jesus show you the example of how to give people opportunity to change, even those who have hurt you or will hurt you or are planning to hurt you. There's this kindness and love that Jesus demonstrates here. God must be glorified. That's the most important thing.

Let that be the defining thing. It's not about, you know, making myself happy or following my dreams or accomplishing my purposes or looking out for, you know, what's best in my perspective or my understanding. God must be glorified. That needs to be my goal. That needs to be my agenda. My decisions that I make, the course that I take must be for that purpose. I must love like Jesus. He set the example.

Desire what's best for people and be willing to serve them that they might experience God's best. Be willing to serve them at your own expense. Be willing to humble yourself and wash feet. Be willing to give of yourself to minister, to edify, to build up, to help the people in your life experience all that God has for them. Help them to know God. Finally, Jesus knows you and still loves you. We can take great comfort in this.

And whatever troubles our hearts, oh man, we can have such peace now. Because yes, I do struggle. Yes, I have these issues. Yes, I fall short and I'm frail and I'm weak. But it's not a surprise to the Lord. He's not shocked by it. No, in fact, he knew before I was born that I would do those things, that I would fail in those ways. And he loved me enough to still die for me and extend his love and grace to me

He doesn't want my heart to be troubled. He doesn't want your heart to be troubled. Believe in him. He's preparing you, preparing for you rather, a mansion for eternity, preparing for you a place that you and him could be together forever. Let's pray. Lord, we thank you.

for your word and these final lessons, Lord, that you are giving to your disciples and to us by extension. Lord, we thank you for the encouragement and the important reminders that are here. I pray, God, that you would allow these things to sink in. Lord, that our hearts would be changed, that we would become more like you. And Lord, that we would pick ourselves up when we fall short and seek you out and seek to follow you and seek to glorify you with our lives. We pray this in Jesus' name.

We pray you have been blessed by this Bible teaching. The power of God to change a life is found in the daily reading of His Word. Visit ferventword.com to find more teachings and Bible study resources.