The Gospel of John: John 13.27-38

Read and meditate on John 13.27-38.
John shows us what he meant by saying Jesus loved His disciples “to the end” (v. 1). The subject of John 13 is betrayal and love. The most important lesson is that the love of Jesus perseveres despite hindrances and disappointments. This is the kind of love we need.

                           ²⁷And when this was done,
and Judas had received from Him the bread,
then Satan entered him, and Jesus said
to him, “Do quickly what you do.” ²⁸But no
one seated at the table seemed to know
why Jesus said this to him. ²⁹Some supposed,
since Judas kept the money, he would go
and buy the things they needed for the feast,
or give some money to the poor, at least.
³⁰When Judas had received the bread, he went
out straight away, and it was night.

                                                ³¹So then,
when he had gone out, Jesus said to them,
“The Son of Man is glorified; in Him
God, too, is glorified. ³¹If God in Him
is glorified, then God as well in Him
will glorify Himself, and glorify
the Son of Man at once. ³³My children, I
shall be with you a little longer. You
will seek Me, and as I said to the Jews,
‘Where I am going, there you may not come,’
now I the same say unto you. ³⁴But from
Me now receive this new commandment: Love
each other. Just as I have loved you, love
each other just the same. ³⁵By this will all
men know that you are My disciples, called
to follow Me, if you have love for one
another.” ³⁶Peter answered (who was son
of Simon), “Lord, where are You going?” He
replied to him, “You cannot follow Me
where I am going now, but afterward
you will.” ³⁷Then Peter said to Him, “But Lord,
why not? For I will lay my life down for
Your sake.” ³⁸Then Jesus answered Peter, “Your
life you will lay down for My sake? I say
to You most surely, that before the day
dawns, and the rooster crows, you will deny
three times you even know Me.”
- John 13.27-38

Reflect
1. John began this chapter by announcing that Jesus had loved His disciples throughout the course of His ministry, and now He would love them “to the end.” From what we’ve seen in this chapter, and especially in this last section, how would you characterize the love Jesus had for His disciples? How does one who is motivated by such love look on the people around him? How can we nurture such love in our soul? Complete this prayer: Lord, I want to love like You love, so I need to think about others the way You do, beginning with…

2.  Our passage for this week is bookended by two betrayals, Judas and Peter. In what ways were these betrayals – each yet in the future – alike? How did they differ? How can we guard ourselves from betraying our Lord, Who loves us so? Lord Jesus, thank You for dying for me, rising for me, living for me, and giving me Your Word and Your Spirit. Whenever I consider betraying You, Lord, help me to…

3.  Jesus makes a connection between the love He showed toward His disciples and the glory He would bring to God. How would you explain that connection? Can we love like Jesus and not glorify God? Can we glorify God where love is not present? What are the implications for us as Jesus’ disciples? You have called me to Your Kingdom and glory, O Lord, and I fulfill that calling as I…

4.  Jesus was not naïve about what lay ahead for Him. Yet He was undeterred by the betrayals and suffering that were shortly to come from loving His disciples and teaching them to love one another. How was He able to love like that? On what was He focusing? What can we learn from Jesus about loving others even in the face of betrayal, suffering, disappointment, and more? Only in Your strength, Lord Jesus, can I…

5. Jesus commands us to love one another as He loves us. The love of the new commandment does not arise from feeling – as if we could not love someone truly unless we felt strongly about him.Nor is it conditioned by circumstances – as if we only love others under certain conditions. Such love clearly is not dependent on being loved in return. What is the basis for new commandment love, and how should that work in us, that we might love as Jesus loves? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.

Summary
“Christ commands us to love as he did, putting neither reputation, wealth or anything else before love of our brothers and sisters. If need be, we even need to be prepared to face death for our neighbor’s salvation as our Savior’s blessed disciples did, as well as those who followed in their footsteps. To them the salvation of others mattered more than their own lives, and they were ready to do anything or to suffer anything to save souls that were perishing.” Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD)

The glory of God John has been pointing toward from the beginning of His gospel comes to fullest expression in the love Jesus has for His people. If we would glorify God, we must love, despite betrayals, hindrances, inconvenience, or suffering. Set your mind on Jesus, then love as He does. What can you do to help ensure you love this way?

Closing Prayer
I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16.8-11

Psalm 16.8-11 (All to Christ: Jesus Paid It All)
You are ever with me, Lord; in You I shall not fall.
But rejoicing in Your Word, I abide within Your call.
    Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand;
    Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.

Soon Your glory I shall see, for as Jesus rose again,
You will come to gather me to my home with You in heav’n.
    Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand;
    Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.

T. M. Moore
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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.