By Becky Upchurch
John 13:34
The setting for today’s text is the Upper Room where Jesus and his disciples have their last meal together. Judas has left to do his traitorous work. Jesus first tells his disciples that He will be glorified and God will be glorified through Him. Then He tells them that where He is going they cannot come. It is at this point that we find our text: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
It appears the disciples may not have even heard Jesus say these words about this new command and love because the immediate response from Peter is “Where are you going”? After a short conversation with Peter, Jesus reassures the disciples and tells them He is going to prepare a place for them. Thomas replies, “We don’t know where you are going.”
Unlike the disciples, we know where Jesus went – to the cross. We know what happened – He died and He overcame death. And we know where He is – He ascended into heaven and resides with God His Father. And because we know these things, we are able to focus on His words about love. We know, because of where He went, just how much He loved us. We know, because of what happened, that our sins are forgiven. We know, because of where He is, that He is truly the Son of God. And because of Who He is and His extreme and unending love for us, we are challenged each day to follow His new command: “As I have loved you…so you must love one another”.