Love one another (3 things)

• 1^st – The betrayal of Judas… vs. 18-30 (4 things)
  • 1^st – This final teaching of Jesus was not for all of the ‘disciples’… vs. 18-20
    • He had chosen all of them – and Jesus knew who is was who would betray Him…
      • Psalms 41:9 – “Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.”
      • He told the disciples about the betrayal – so when it happened they would believe…
      • Believe Jesus was the ‘I Am’ – God almighty – because only God knows the future!
      • Isaiah 46:9 – “I am God, there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning.”
    • Jesus was about to send the disciples out into the world to preach the Gospel…
      • Just as Jesus represented the Father – so they would represent Him…
      • They were not going in their own authority – but as ambassadors for God!
      • An ambassador represents the authority and power of an entire nation…
      • He speaks on behalf of the leader of His nation – he speaks for the King…
      • II Corinthians 5:20 – “We are ambassadors for Christ…”
      • God sends us out into ta lost and dying world to give people the Good news!
      • We do not go in our power/authority – we speak with the authority of our King!
  • 2^nd – Jesus was troubled in His Spirit and stated – ‘One of you will betray Me’… vs. 21-22
    • Each of the Disciples asked – ‘Lord is it me…’ – Mark 14:19
      • Anyone of the disciples could have been the betrayer – they were all sinners…
      • When people fall into sin – most are quick to want to judge / attack them…
      • We tend to forget when others make mistakes – we are sinner as well…
      • And when we make mistakes – we do not want the Law / justice – we want GRACE!
      • If we remember that – we will be far gentler when others make mistakes…
      • Matthew 7:2–“For others will treat you as you treat them…”
    • Jesus knew who would betray Him – He could at anytime have stopped Judas…
      • Yet instead Jesus asks a question – not to find who would betray Him…
      • Not to pass judgment / or condemning – but instead giving opportunity to repent…
      • Judas had every opportunity to ask for forgiveness – right up to the very end!
      • God is VERY gracious – He will give us a thousand chances to turn back to Him…
      • No matter what we have done – or how many times we have sinned…
      • Romans 5:20 – “Where sin abounds, grace abounds much more…”
  • 3^rd – One of the disciples was sitting next to Jesus at the table… vs. 23-26
    • It was the author of the Book – who calls himself ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’…
      • Four times – the author refers to himself as – ‘the disciple Jesus loved’…
      • Including at the cross – John 19:26 – where John was the only disciple still there…
      • John in humility does not mention himself by name – the book is about Jesus!
    • Peter motioned to John to ask Jesus who the betrayer was…
      • So leaning in towards Jesus – John asked the Lord ‘Who is it’…
      • Jesus answered the one whom He gave a piece of bread to…
      • He then dipped his bread – and handed it to Judas Iscariot…
    • So often we are curious about the sins of others…
      • Most of us are just nosy plain – not that we want to know so we can help…
      • We want to know so we can pass on the latest juicy gossip to others…
      • Proverbs 16:28 – “A gossip plants seeds of division… separates the best of friends.”
      • But looking for sin – and passing on the secrets only destroys lives…
      • We can justify it – I was not gossiping – I was letting them know so they could pray…
      • James 3:5 – “The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do…”
      • We need to be very careful what we say – the hurtful words we speak…
      • You have heard the old saying – ‘if you have nothing good to say – say nothing’…
      • Because we will have to answer one day for every idle word – Matthew 12:36
  • 4^th – When Jesus handed the bread (sign of friendship) – satan entered Judas… vs. 27-30
    • Unwilling to repent – unwilling to change – Judas sealed his fate…
      • Satan entered him again – and Jesus said – ‘what you do, do quickly.’
      • None of the disciples understood what Jesus meant – they did not expect Judas…
      • Figured Judas had the money – maybe Jesus was telling him to pay for the meal…
    • Judas was determined to go through with his plan – betray Christ…
      • Why was Judas so hard – he loved money more than he loved God…
      • Sin is devastating – if we refuse to repent of our sin – it will harden our hearts…
      • That does not mean God does not keep fighting for us – but there will come a point…
      • If we continually choose sin – hardening our heart towards God – refusing to repent
      • God will give us what we want – He will give us over to our sin – Genesis 6:1
      • Hebrews 3:13 – “Exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
    • It is hard to realize/accept not everyone will go to heaven…
      • Not because God does not want them to – God wants everyone to be saved…
      • II Peter 3:9 – “God does not want anyone to perish… time for everyone to repent.”
      • But because they refuse the goodness of God – they refuse heaven!
• 2^nd – The greatest command… vs. 31-35 (2 things)
  • 1^st – Once Judas had left Jesus said – ‘Now the Son of Man is glorified’… vs. 31-32
    • Judas leaving set things into motion – he was on his way to the priests…
      • They would soon come and meet Jesus in the Garden and arrest Him…
      • The cross – where God would glorify Jesus – was now only hours away!
    • Judas had to leave before Jesus could continue…
      • Because there were things Jesus wanted to say – Judas / satan could not hear…
      • There are times when you want to share something personal to a friend…
      • But you hesitate because there are strangers you do not want listening in…
      • So you wait until they leave and only your friend remains before you open up!
      • There are going to be people who come to church for a while – then leave…
      • Maybe because of a ‘hard teaching’ / upset because of something the Bible says…
      • Or because of un-repentant sin in their lives – hardening them towards God…
      • But it is sometimes better if they leave – because they can keep Jesus from speaking!
  • 2^nd – Little children – I will only be with you a little while longer… vs. 33-35
    • Realizing the time of His departure was quickly approaching – Jesus softly said…
      • You cannot come with me where I am going – He was returning to the Father…
      • His purpose here on earth was almost finished – but theirs was just beginning…
      • Jesus had told the Disciples to be a servant – now He gives them a 2^nd command…
    • A new commandment I give unto you
      • It was not ‘new’ in the sense that it had never been given before – I John 2:7… 
      • The commandment to love was in the Law of Moses – Leviticus 19:18…
      • The command was new in that it was given in a new light – how we are to Love…
      • As Jesus has loved (Agape) us – so we are to love (Agape) one another…
      • The definition of love (Agape)  is laid out in detail in Paul’s first Epistle to Corinth…
      • I Corinthians 13:4-8 – “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud, or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever.”
      • Think of how much Jesus loves us – how much He has done for us…
      • He never gets irritated with us / never holds a grudge against us…
      • Jesus expects nothing from us / He simply desires to give everything to us…
      • That is the Love we are called to have for one another!
    • By this love all men will know you are My Disciples…
      • The church is best known today for its love – instead for what it does not do…
      • Do not drink / do not smoke / do not go to parties / do not have tattoos…
      • And when the world looks at the church – and sees all of these rules…
      • Most of which the very people who make the rules – do not even keep…
      • The world walks away from Jesus – saying who would want that!
      • God does not tell us we are to be known by our rules – by what we do not do…
      • We are to be known by what we do – we are to be known by our love!
        
• 3^rd – The promise of heaven… vs. 36-38 (2 things)
  • 1^st – Peter asked Jesus – where are you going… vs. 36-37
    • Jesus reiterated – you cannot follow Me now (to heaven) – but later you will…
    • Jesus was trying to give Peter an AMAZING promise – he would go to heaven…
    • The problem was rather than listening to Jesus – Peter was focused on himself…
    • So he blurted out – he would go anywhere for Jesus – he would die for Him!
    • As a result Peter was going to get himself into a lot of trouble that night…
    • So often we end up talking to God when we should be listening…
    • There is nothing we know – God does not already know…
    • There is a LOT God knows – that we have yet to learn – if we would just listen!
  • 2^nd – Jesus told Peter – before morning he would deny Jesus three times… vs. 38
    • Luke 22:32 – adds that satan wanted to shake Peter to his very core…
      • Was Peter really dedicated to Jesus – did he really believe – or was it just an act…
      • I imagine those were VERY unsettling words to hear – ‘satan knows my name’…
      • Make no mistake – if we stand up for Jesus – satan knows who we are…
      • And he will come test us – try us – to see what we are made of…
      • He wants to try and prove we are not really sincere in our faith in Jesus…
      • When we are made fun of for coming to church / reading our Bibles…
      • When every Sunday morning – everything happens to keep us from church…
      • When those we love the most – give us the hardest time about our faith…
      • What do we do – stand up for Jesus / or blend back into the world…
    • I have prayed your faith will not fail – and when you have returned…
      • Jesus let Peter be tested – but He did not leave Him alone – He was praying for him…
      • Do not miss – when (not if) Peter was restored – Jesus knew he was going to fail… 
      • After his fall – he would come back to Jesus – and he was to comfort his brothers…
      • Satan can not touch us – unless the Lord lets him – Job 1:10
      • But God does let him – so he can try our faith – let us see what is in our hearts…
      • It is in the fiery trials of life – we see what is really in our hearts!
    • End of the chapter – but it should not be…
      • Chapter marks are not inspired – and verse 38 is not the end of Jesus’ conversation!
      • Where Judas had rejected Jesus – Peter was going to just stumble and fall…
      • But God was not done with Him – in fact He was just getting started…
      • So Jesus gave Peter one of the greatest promises of the Bible!
      • John 14:1-2 – Do not let your heart be troubled – I go to prepare a place for you!
      • God is not surprised when we make mistakes – He knows we are sinners…
      • The important thing is to repent and come back to Jesus – get back up!
      • Proverbs 24:16 – “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.”
      • Keeping in mind God is not done with us – in fact He is just getting started…
      • And one day He is going to come back for us – to take us to be with Him forever!