“When he had gone out, Jesus said, ’Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, “Where I am going you cannot come.” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’” (John 13:31-35, ESV).
Do you know Charlie Kirk?
He was an American conservative activist. At 18, he was a co-founder of conservative movement and later became a Christian movement called Turning Point USA. He endorsed and supported Donald Trump. President Trump said that without Kirk, perhaps, he would not have won the Presidency.
Charlie was unknown to me. Last September, however, I saw in the FB video clip about his assassination. He was in the college campus speaking to the students. Suddenly a bullet hit him and blood spurted or gushed out from his neck!
He was killed at the age of 31. I became interested to know him. I searched and reviewed what he said when he was still alive. Even the Prime Minister of Israel knew and honored him. I began to admire him. And the more I learn about his life and his belief, my admiration for him increased.
Now, in what point in our life that interest or admiration for Christ blossomed in our heart? And if we have experienced it, are we now contented to have that level of admiration for Him?
So, this time, let’s explore our topic, UPGRADE YOUR ADMIRATION FOR CHRIST, while we study our text (John 13:31-35).
We already knew about the life and the words of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. And we are thankful and even praising Him.
But, what other things in Christ that could intensify our appreciation for Him? Or, what could we see in His attitude that could upgrade or magnify our admiration, even adoration for Him?
Be reminded again that the Book of John was written by the Apostle John, who addressed himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”
Last time we went through verses 21-30 of chapter 13. We looked on the humanity of Jesus Christ. And we noted that His humanity was spectacular. It was spectacular as we considered the splendor of His Sovereignty. His humanity was spectacular as we considered also the grace of His human virtue.
Now, in our present text, we see at least three angles that display the brilliance in the attitude of Christ. And those attitudes can motivate us to intensify our interest or appreciation for Him. What are, then, his attitudes that can upgrade or increase our admiration, even adoration for Him? His attitude of…
First, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE HAPPY ENDING (verses 31-32).
We read verses 31-32, “When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.’”
After Judas left, Jesus did not focus on the betrayal. He did not focus on His crucifixion. He looked ahead. His mind was directed further forward. In His mind, the suffering that was about to take place was absorbed or dominated by the glory awaiting ahead. “Now is the Son of Man (referring to Himself) glorified…”
He was aware of the coming betrayal. He foresaw His suffering and death on the cross. But Jesus was more concerned of His glorification, not just of His resurrection but the glory to be with the Father and the glory He could bring to Him.
While Jesus was about to face and endure horrible suffering, He was looking forward to the happy and glorious ending.
In our world, when positive thinking is promoted, there is a saying that we could hear, “Look at the light at the end of the tunnel.” It suggests that difficulties and obstacles are temporary. Focus not on the darkness you are going through, but on the light where you will arrive.
Well, that’s an encouraging saying. But the Word tells us to direct our attention, not on the saying of men but on Jesus. It says, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2, ESV).
We are told to look to Jesus. See His example. Not just for His endurance. But to have faith. He modeled the faith as seeing ahead the joy, so we could have also the faith to endure and despise whatever suffering we go through, and to have the faith to value more to be in the Presence of God and the exaltation He would bestow.
Jesus looked forward to the joy that was set before Him.
Believers or lovers of Christ, are we looking to Jesus?
He was looking forward to the happy ending. Do we see the beauty of His attitude in it? If so, then, that should upgrade our admiration for Him!
One of the things that upgraded my admiration for Charlie Kirk is that he could engage in a debate in almost every topic. He debated even with the students of Cambridge in England. He himself did not finish college, but he read several books in a year. Because of my admiration of him, I am motivated not to debate, but to read also several books in a year.
If our admiration for Jesus is upgraded because he is looking forward to the happy ending, should we not be motivated also to look forward to the happy ending, instead of thinking always on whatever suffering or trials we are facing? Yes, we feel the pain in this world, but with the faith that Jesus gives, we can go through whatever pain, as we see or experience the pleasure to be in the Presence of God.
What else that can upgrade our admiration for Jesus? His attitude of…
Second, CARING FOR THE STATE OF HIS FOLLOWERS (verse 33).
We read verse 33, ”Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’”
Jesus addressed His faithful followers, “Little children…” It conveys “deep affection and spiritual intimacy,” according to ChatGPT. But Efren’s (my) commentary points out that the listeners then of Jesus are true believers, addressing them: “children.” In other words, children of God. He added the word “little” -- indicating they were helpless, needed to be taken care of. Realize that Jesus was about to leave them, as He would die on the cross. He expressed His concern for them that they would be left behind.
Jesus knew and felt that they desired to be with Him. They longed for His Presence and when He would be gone, they would seek for Him. But at that time, they would not be able to come and be with Him. He implied that they should not waste their own physical effort of seeking for Him. He cared for the pain that they would feel as they longed for Him.
People in this world seek for various or different things. They want to have something or someone close to their heart. And even Christians are not exempted from aspiring, seeking for some of those things to the point of exhaustion or desperation, or worrying so much.
But God’s Word tells them to cast all their “anxieties on Him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, ESV).
In the Old Testament, God expressed His care for His people: “for the Lord of hosts cares for his flock” (Zechariah 10:3).
God wants His children to be free from cares. Even earthly parents are the ones who protect, provide and are taking care of their little children.
So, little children are not anxious for their own protection, provision, or for anything. They know their father or mother cares for them.
Believers or lovers of Christ, what are we seeking now? What consumes our mind, heart, time, effort in order to find and have what we want or love to possess? What is that thing that we think so much to have?
Healing? Comfort? Wealth? Fame? Power?
Or you are simply looking for a good job/income? good grades? a good house/dwelling place? good life partner? good looks? a good solution to a particular problem?
Even non-Christians are also seeking for them. And they are anxious to have them.
But, are little children concerned for them? They are just seeking, looking to be with their parents. If we consider ourselves children of God, we need more to seek, to look always for our Heavenly Father, who cares for us. If we are really Christians, we will not consume our energy seeking complete satisfaction in this world. We will seek full satisfaction to be in the Presence of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Why? Because He cares for the state of His followers.
Where could we seek Him? In His Word. Let us not be satisfied to be with Him only once, twice, or thrice a week. Little children wants to be with those who care for them daily. Let’s strive to be with His Word daily.
What is the third thing that can upgrade our admiration of Jesus? His attitude of…
Third, GIVING INSTRUCTION FOR ENCOURAGEMENT (verses 34-35).
We read verses 34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
In most Bible commentaries, that passage was being understood or explained as separated from the previous verse. But if we take the words of Jesus as a whole in the text, we can see a beautiful motive to love one another. Not only that “all people will know” we are His disciples.
Consider again that Jesus knew the emotional pain of the disciples, because He would leave them behind. Did Jesus tell them to cease from seeking Him? Or, just tell them to wait, for their inability to come to Him by that time?
What did Jesus say to encourage them? He gave them an instruction: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you,…”
Instead of allowing them to dwell in their longing, or deplete their energy in seeking, they were instructed to do something more constructive: love one another as Jesus loved them.
As if Jesus was telling them, “Let your love of seeking to be with me, love one another instead.”
When I was still a child, I would cry as I woke up and found that my father already left for work. So, next time that he would leave the house and I was still sleeping, he would place my pet cat beside me. He knew that instead of missing him, or trying to look for him, I would play with my cat instead. As if he was telling me, instead of looking for him, I should just play.
Jesus did not want that His followers to waste their effort. He did not want them to spend even their emotion on negative things. Because they could not express their love to Him in His absence, then exercise their love for one another. Because their effort of seeking and coming to Him could not be realized, they should instead invest their effort of loving another.
He gave them instruction to love one another, not just to show to others that they are His disciples but also to encourage them, while they could not be in His Presence.
Believers or lovers of Christ, do you see here the picture that display the beauty of Christ?
Realize that Christ gives instruction, not only that we could do good to others. The same instruction He gives in order for us also to experience what is good.
Remember He issues a command not just to encourage us to obey what He wants, but also to give us the means to experience encouragement in our life.
Consider, then, that when we obey God’s command, we bless His Name as we glorify Him in our obedience; we bless also others by the good works we do; and we ourselves experience a blessing, as we do it.
Remember the verse we always hear, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)? When we obey the command to give, we experience more blessing.
So, let’s obey the command of Jesus: “love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” Obeying it is not only for the benefit of others, or for the Glory of God, but also for our own encouragement.
Next time, we encounter or we think about God’s command, consider it not a burden, but a blessing.
CONCLUSION:
Before we end, you heard in the introduction that my admiration for Charlie Kirk jumped up after I learned more about his life, learning more what he did and what he said.
You may not be interested in his life. But every Christian ought to be interested in the life of Christ.
We should not be content just to know and admire Him that He died on the cross and rose again from the dead. We need to be more familiar with Him.
Try to uncover His life from Genesis to Revelation. Know Him more. Admire Him more. And begin now by knowing that Jesus Christ is looking forward to the happy ending, He is caring for the state of His followers, and He is giving instruction for our own encouragement. May you continue to upgrade your admiration for Him.
