Last Night: Plans for the Last Days

In John 13:31-35, Jesus introduces the main themes he will talk about during this last night with his followers, three truths that will define the Church through the coming millenia.

Glorify God

31-32 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. 

Glorifying God: It’s why Jesus came, its why the disciples followed, its why the church exists, it’s why the Holy Spirit came, its the prime responsibility of the Church.

We sing lots of songs about glorifying God, but it's important to note that when Jesus talks about glorifying the Father, he talks about sacrifice and servanthood and mission. God is glorified by action. The Church that glorifies God is a community willing to actively give themselves up for Him every day.

From Incarnation to Indwelling

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." 

When Jesus announces he's leaving, he's closing the book on the era of God-in-the-flesh. No longer will he be around to show the world the heart and character of God.

In his place will come the Holy Spirit, to usher in the era of God-in-the-heart. Jesus' detailed description of the Holy Spirit's purpose is all about mission and very little about the type of things many in the Church think it means to be Spirit-filled. The Spirit is sent to inhabit the Church so we can model the heart and character of God for the world to see.

Lead with Love

34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

According to Jesus, the one characteristic that will define the Church is love. He didn't say everyone will know you are my disciples if you separate yourself from them, or if you tell them all the ways they're wrong, or if you build magnificent cathedrals, or it you construct an alternate society just for disciples.

They'll notice the Church and be drawn to Jesus in direct proportion to our love, the sort of love that is active and visible.