If someone tells you to do something - are you likely to do it, or not?
Someone commands you, “Do this!”
Will you do it?
It depends - right?
But what does it depend on?
What motivates you to follow someone’s commands or advice?
Or, what are some reasons, for not following someone’s commands?
Think for a moment about what inspires you, or discourages you to follow someone
What are some factors that will influence you positively or negatively?
What will help convince you that it’s a good idea?
As I think about it - two things comes to my mind,
-first, what are the consequences?
-will there be punishment - or rewards?
“If you do the wrong thing - you’ll go to jail!”
“If you do the right thing - you’ll get a prize!”
-rewards or punishment - depending on if you do right or wrong
-are important influencing factors for our obeying someone’s command
-or maybe, even, in the same vein, will it work or not work?
“If I do that - I don’t think that’s going to work for me!”
“Hmmm, yeah, if I do it that way, yeah, I think that will work!”
So, first, there’s the consequences or expected results that may convince you
-second, who’s giving the command?
-the source of the command is real important
“I’m not going to do that, just because YOU tell me to! Who are you?!”
“If YOU’RE telling me to do this - I’ll do it!
“I’ll do anything you tell me to do!”
The more you respect the person who’s asking you to do something
-the more likely you are to follow his/her commands
-respect & willingness to follow are directly related
As we come to the Lord’s Supper Table - together with Jesus this a.m.
-we’re given a command by the Lord
This command is something you’re very familiar with
-you’ve heard it many times before
-but let’s put ourselves back in time to be like the disciples
-& this is a new command - because Jesus introduced it as new
John 13:34
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
What’s new about that? Weren’t we always supposed to love one another?
The “old” command read, “Love your neighbor as yourself”
-that’s found in the Old Testament & Jesus has quoted this many times
-before this
What’s different? What’s new?
Compare the two
Could there be a difference now with Jesus asking them to love
-as He loved us
-before, we were to love as we loved ourselves
-now, we’re to love as Jesus loves us - which, is more than He loved Himself
-you are about to find out in His giving His life for you,
-that He loves you more than He loves Himself
I suspect it didn’t all sink in at that supper table that evening with the disciples
-but that’s the command - “Love one another, as Jesus loves you”
Realize, you’re here this a.m. with Jesus
-& that’s Jesus’ command for you
“Love people, like Jesus loves you!”
That’s a challenging command - it’s as challenging & as difficult as it gets
-it’s the big picture of what we need to do in life
-it covers it all!
What does it mean to love one another like Jesus loves us?
-we’ve tried to cover that before & we’ll cover that again
-but this a.m., let’s think more about the question, “Why?”
Why should I follow this command?
You’re sitting, or laying down with Jesus for this intimate meal
-& you’re challenged with this monumental command to love
-& we’re presented right now ourselves with this new command - love
-love others more than you love yourself
What makes you want to follow that command?!
-well, let’s think of the factors that might motivate us, as already mentioned
First, what are the consequences?
What will happen if you don’t?
What will happen if you do?
Once again, there’s a lot to think about
-but here’s one
-if you follow this command,
-you’ll be a disciple & you’ll be known as a disciple
vv.34-35
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Is that what you want to be - a disciple of Jesus?
Well, you’ve been following Him for some years now
-& you’re sitting down around a table with Him
-just moments before, He shockingly alarmed you with the revelation
-that someone was going to leave & give up on being a disciple
John 13:21
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
Being with Jesus - & what He just said to the group of disciples,
-that was a wake up call on your own commitment
-as each disciple must have thought, & you would have thought,
“I won’t leave!
“It’s not going to be me who leaves!”
-think about what it would mean to leave Jesus
-sometimes, facing the possibility of loosing what you have
-makes you realize how much you really want it
-the thought of leaving Jesus,
-makes you realize how much you really want to follow Him
You want to be a disciple of Jesus
-& it goes for being a disciple - you want to help others become disciples
-being a disciple & making disciples go together
-like a kitchen & food - you have a kitchen & expect to make food
-you have a disciple & a disciple helps to make other disciples
-& you can’t help but desire that people become disciples
-you know that people will be doomed in the Lake of Fire (Hell),
-if they don’t become a disciple of Jesus
-so, even if you have the smallest kernel of concern, compassion & love
-you’ll want to help people become disciples of Jesus
-realizing what happens to them if they don’t!
-following this command is what it’s all about in being a disciple
-& helping others become disciples of Jesus
-love communicates to the world that we are His disciples!
v.35 “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Do you want to be a disciple of Jesus?
Love one another self-sacrificially!
Do you want to help others become disciples of Jesus?
Love one another self-sacrificially!
So, first - what are the consequences?
-of many - one is you’ll be a disciple & a disciple maker
-& that’s what we’ve decided we want to be here at this church
-it was certainly the desire of the disciples who were gathered around Jesus
-that night
-in order to be what we want to be - we need to love self-sacrificially
Second, - Who is it that’s asking or commanding you to do this?
-this is where it really gets good - JESUS
& take a look at what He’s just told you about Himself
-having just heard this - you’d be willing to follow Him anywhere
-to do anything - to be anyone - just for Him
vv.31-32
When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
What did He just say? What did Jesus just tell you?
He’s saying, He’s now to be glorified!
-this is not just any glory - like some earthly king
-or great athlete in the Olympics
-this is God’s glory!
-& you’d know, God does not share His glory with anyone!
-the Glory of God is very, very special & is reserved only for God!
-look at what we know about this:
Isaiah 42:8
"I am the Lord; that is my name!
I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.
Isaiah 48:11
I will not yield my glory to another.
Here we have Jesus claiming that God is glorifying Him & God, Himself,
-is glorified in the life of Jesus
-this is an impressive claim - that Jesus could only make being God the Son
-if Jesus were not God in person,
-He couldn’t say & think this kind of thing
-& furthermore - Jesus links Himself with a special prophecy of the Son of Man
-who comes in God’s glory
Daniel 7:13-14
"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”
Jesus is this person - this glorious - God the Son - “Son of man” deity
Realize just who this is - Jesus - God the Son - the glory of God
Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being
But this same King of King, Lord of Lords
-is the same one who just washed your feet - as a humble servant
-teaching you to do the same in serving others
-this Jesus - is someone, you’d wholeheartedly embrace
-you want to be His disciple
-you want to follow Him
-He commands you to do something - regardless of how hard or impossible
-you’ll give your life to follow what He asks you to do
However, something profoundly different is about to happen
-there’s going to be some significant change
-you’re following Jesus - but now He’s leaving!
-up until now, you just simply followed Him
How will you follow Him now?
v.33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
Instead of coming with the “clouds of heaven”
-with authority, glory & sovereign power
-He was leaving
How will you follow Him now that He will be gone?
This is the mission - this is the command - this is the formula
-for following Him: LOVE one another!
That’s how we need to envision our church - we’re disciples making disciples
-as we love one another - we are His disciples
-& the world sees we’re His disciples
-it’s about being committed to Christ, our community & one-another
Will you follow Jesus?
Will you listen to His command?
Its not an easy one - & will take some development with His help
-but it’s a good one
-it’s got good rewards or results - you’ll be His disciple
-& it’s Jesus - the glorious Son of Man - Son of God - God the Son
-the Lord Jesus Christ
May we gather around His table & let Him speak to us
-on how we can love one another, as He loves us
-may we really want to do this
-may it be our passion to love as He loved us
-to be His disciples & disciple makers
-& therefore, may we love one another!
|