The Wow Factor!

For those unfamiliar with an Anglican Service there are four Scripture readings before the message. Today’s readings were: Acts:11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21: 1-6 and John 13:31-35.

I am sure ... that most of us have seen do-mi-noes set up by the thousands or ...... even by the tens of thousands.

And after they are arranged ... someone tips over the first one .... which sends them tumbling ... one after another.

A lot of planning goes into ... an event like that.

It must be designed, ... mapped out ...... and then .... meticulously set up ... (Pause) one at a time.

It takes hours, .... days, .... even months.

When the dominoes start falling, ... we witness a chain reaction ...which leads to a ... glorious outcome. (Pause)

Now Glory ... is one of those words we hear quite often .... that is never clearly ... defined.

It is a word that contains much emotion and much wonderment.

It is often used ... when we experience something that has a .... (Slow) ...... Wow factor.

Such as, .... "Oh what a glorious view!" ......or "That performance was glorious!" or "Honey ... you look Glorious." (Pause)

Jesus uses the word glory ... five times in our short Gospel text today.

As we reflect on the Gospel, ... we need to ask: What is the Wow factor ... that Jesus is talking about?

What is the glory ...... that Jesus is speaking about?

Let's set the scene.

Judas has left the room.

His decision to betray Jesus is now ... final.

The events which lead toward the crucifixion of Jesus ... were set in motion.

The events were now ... "Falling" into place.

The dominoes ... are tumbling.

Tumbling toward the climax ... the climax ... of the Cross.

As Michael Card, the great contemporary artist sings, Quote ... (Slow) "The climax of the cross, ...the moment our hope was born." (Pause)

The cross certainly had a ... Wow factor, ... yet not in a conventional way. (Pause)

According to John's testimony, ... Jesus final words from the cross were, .... (Slow) "It is finished." (John 19:28-30)

The dominoes have fallen .... and the glory of God in Jesus .... is displayed ... on the cross.

That is the glory Jesus was speaking of ... with his disciples ... on that astonishing night.

It was also on this night ... that Jesus reclined with the Twelve ... to eat the feast of the Passover.

They all would have looked to Jesus ... to fulfill the fatherly role ...... in the Passover ceremony.

To answer the questions concerning the importance ... of the Passover meal.

But on this night the disciple's role ... is unique.

They witness Jesus answers ... which will bring out a new meaning ... to this night.

A meaning that centers on Jesus' suffering.

His Suffering is also...... part of the ... this Glory.

It is Part of the ... Wow factor. (Pause)

So....... Why does Jesus state: "Where I am going you cannot come?" (John 13:33)

Where is Jesus going that the leaders of the Jews and his disciples .... cannot go?

Peter later in the Scriptures ... asked him that very same question, .... "Lord, where are you going?" (John 13:36-37)

The disciples cannot go because, .... Jesus is going to the cross ....and then ...... to the Father. (Pause)

(Slow) It is the Wow factor ... involving Jesus' relationship with his disciples ... that I want to focus on .... This day.

Our Lord gives a new commandment ... a commandment that is based on the disciples' relationship to him and to one another.

Hear Gods Word. BIBLE "A new commandment I give you: that you Love one another. (Pause) Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one other." END John 13:34

Now...This standard is not something that was completely new to them.

His disciples would be familiar with this law of love as it is given ... in the Law of Moses

Leviticus 19:18 States this command, BIBLE "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." END (Leviticus 19:18)

Yet ... Jesus... this night.... takes it to a personal level... a higher level ... He says: "Love one another," ...., "as I have loved ... you."

The Wow Factor!

If Christians love each other ... the way Jesus showed his love to the world, ...then this type of Love will be unmistakable!

It will be a love ... that the world will stand in amazement ... to see.

A love that the world ... cannot comprehend.

Jesus did not simply say, "Love one another."

Jesus was very specific about the kind of love his disciples must share.