Christ’s Farewell Sermon to His Disciples
January 19, 2023
Commentary
From a human perspective, the death of Christ was a terrible thing that involved unspeakable suffering and humiliation; but from a heavenly perspective it was the revelation of the love of God. “The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified” (12:23). The word love is used only twelve times in John 1-12, but in chapters 13-21 it is used forty-four times! It is a key word in Christ’s farewell sermon to His disciples. With the exit of Judas, the stage was set for that series of events that would bring glory to both the Father and the Son (vv. 31-32).
He was only about 40 hours from His death and 40 days from His ascension, when He would be with the Father. Jesus spoke with the tenderness and affection of a father when He said, “Little Children” (v. 33). This is the only time this phrase is used in the Gospels. He didn’t have much time left and anything they wanted to know they would need to learn quickly.
Our Lord was speaking to His disciples for the last time before He went to the cross. He was giving them His last message and that message was, “Love one another.” Under the law they had been commanded to “love thy neighbor as thyself” (Leviticus 19:18) but now Jesus was giving them a newer and higher standard. He commanded His disciples to love one another “even as I have loved you” (vv. 34-35). At this point Peter was still a little confused. Christ told him that he would follow afterwards (vv. 36-38). Peter’s time of death had not yet come (Heb. 9:27). Note Peter’s impulsiveness. He wanted to be with Christ now. Christ predicted the exact opposite of Peter’s claims. Peter said he would die, but Christ died. Peter would deny his Master.
Application
If I knew I had only twenty-four hours to spend with an unsaved friend before he died, what would I want to do? Lord, help me to be a person who senses the urgency to get your Gospel out.
John 13:31– 38 (NET)
31 When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, âNow 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 he will glorify him right away. 33 Children, I am still with you for a little while. You will look for me, and just as I said to the Jewish religious leaders, âWhere I am going you cannot come,â now I tell you the same.
34 âI give you a new commandmentâto love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 Everyone will know by this that you are my disciplesâif you have love for one another.â
36 Simon Peter said to him, âLord, where are you going?â Jesus replied, âWhere I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.â 37 Peter said to him, âLord, why canât I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!â 38 Jesus answered, âWill you lay down your life for me? I tell you the solemn truth, the rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times!
Illustration: Fowler Real Love Knows No Danger
William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story. The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the Princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child’s breath. Once when the child was struggling to breathe, the mother forgetting herself entirely, took the little one into her arms to keep her from choking to death. Rasping and struggling for her life, the child said, ââŹĹMomma, kiss me!” Without thinking of herself, the mother tenderly kissed her daughter. She got diphtheria and some days thereafter she went to be forever with the Lord. Real love forgets self. Real love knows no danger. Real love doesn’t count the cost. (Roy Fowler – Sermon Central).