THE NEW COMMANDMENT

In what sense is Jesus' command to love one another a new commandment? (John 13:34) God had commanded the Israelites to love both fellow Israelites and strangers in the Mosaic Law (Lev. 19:18,34). "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus had repeated this command (Mark 12:31). Jesus, ratifying the Mosaic Law, commanded us to love God and love our neighbors as the two greatest commandments of all time. How, then, can Jesus say to His disciples "a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another" on the night before He died for us on the cross?

The Greek text uses a particular word for "new" that explains the answer to that question.  John expresses Jesus' command with καινος as opposed to the synonym νεος. In many contexts, the two words for "new" are used interchangeably, but sometimes - as here - there is an important distinction. The word νεος emphasizes new with respect to time, new in reference to something that has recently come into existence.  The word καινος emphasizes new with respect to quality. This is the word used in John 13:34.  The emphasis is on new as opposed to something that has become worn out or damaged by age (Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament, p.220.  A good example of this use is John 19:41. Joseph of Arimathea has a "new tomb" (καινος) in which no body had been laid. This was not a tomb that was new because it had been recently carved out of the rock. This was a new tomb in the sense that the tomb was fresh, never been used before. Here is the key to understanding the "new commandment."  The new commandment to love one another is new in the sense of fresh, as opposed to the old commandment that had become worn out by usage. Jesus says, "A fresh commandment I give to you, that you love one another."

The freshness of the command to love one another rests on the foundation of a new standard for love and a new basis for love. The new basis for our love is the cross. We are to love with a "cross love."  Jesus goes on to say that we are to love one another "as I have loved you." Here is the new standard for our love. The Mosaic Law commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves.  Loving another as I love myself is a high calling but a humanly doable calling.  I can (sometimes!) attain to loving someone as I love myself.  It is a fleshly standard - a human standard - for love, but at least it is humanly attainable. The fresh commandment for the new covenant is founded on the standard of Christ's love for us.  Oh, how far I fall short of this standard for love!  My only hope for loving others as Jesus loved me is to love others with His love.  I cannot possibly love as He loved me unless He loves through me.  Please Lord, love others through me - despite me - with your love!

THE GLORY OF THE CROSS

The traitor has left the room to do his evil work. As soon as Judas departed Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him" (John 13:31). Right now?! Really? The verb is not a present tense verb although often translated as a present tense. The verb is in the aorist tense which often would be translated "was glorified" (εδοξασθε) reinforced by another aorist "God was glorified in Him."

Here we see one of the oldest uses of the aorist tense to describe something that has just happened (Moulton, 1:135). It has happened so recently that in English we express it best in present time. It is called a "Dramatic Aorist" - an idiom used to express a state or reality which has just been entered (Dana & Mantey, p.198). What event plunged Jesus into this glorified state or reality? Judas left the room.  The cross work was now under way. Verse 31 is explained by verse 32 which uses a future tense to describe the same glorified state. "God will glorify Him immediately" (δοξασει) (Robertson, p.847).

The cross work of Jesus is His glorification - His finest hour.  Glorification refers to the act of displaying the greatness of a person. The greatness of Jesus was most displayed in the cross work of Jesus which began the moment Judas left the upper room.  John uses "glorify" (δοξαζω) to refer to the cross (John 12:16, 23). The greatness of the Son is displayed on the cross even as the Son displays the Father's greatness on the cross (John 17:1).

Therefore, whenever we diminish the cross, we diminish Christ. Whenever we devalue the cross, we devalue our Lord. Whenever we ignore the cross, we ignore our Savior.  We diminish the cross by exalting human abilities. We devalue the cross by over valuing our methods and skills. We ignore the cross when we promote our solutions to life's problems. Sadly, this describes much of modern, western Christianity. We pull Him down when we puff ourselves up. The result is a popular church that thrives on cheap grace and the latest techniques instead of glorying in the cross of Christ.

THE SINNER'S CHOICE AND THE SAVIOR'S GRACE

A free choice is not free in the sense of un-influenced. A person chooses to sin based on internal and external influences, but the choice is still a genuine choice. 

Judas chose to betray Jesus. He took the piece of bread and "went out immediately; and it was night" (John 13:30).  John, who loves to contrast light and dark, presents the night as a spiritual, not just physical, darkness. Judas chose to leave the light and join the night. How deep is the darkness that envelopes the soul of the one who chooses to leave the light?!

Satan influenced the choice of Judas "having already put into the heart of Judas ... to betray Him" (Jn. 13:2). Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas who ate it and "Satan then entered into him" (Jn. 13:27).  Jesus commanded Judas, "What you do, do quickly" (Jn.13:27).  Although possessed by Satan, Judas obeyed Jesus. He carried out the will of the Savior thereby accomplishing the grace of God. The idea originated with Satan, but the command came from Jesus; yet the choice was made by Judas.

The verb, "he went out," (εξηλθεν) is in the active voice meaning that Judas performed the action. The choice is his choice.  The choice is not made for him by either Jesus or Satan. We can only speculate on the internal influences leading to his choice, but he makes the choice. Judas excommunicates himself not just from Jesus but from the disciples.  Peter also betrays Jesus on that night, but he chooses to remain connected and so will receive the grace that Judas rejects. Excommunication is the choice of the unrepentant sinner to remove himself from the grace of God.

Judas chose to enter the darkness under the influence of Satan even as he obeyed Jesus. This alchemy of wills led to the death of Christ, planned before the world began, and our salvation, initiated by the grace of God.

THE ABSALOM SYNDROME

Have you ever been hurt by someone you trusted?  Jesus knows your pain.  He was "troubled" (εταραχθη) in spirit (John 13:21). The same verb was used of Jesus at the death of his friend Lazarus (John 11:33). The word means to be disturbed or stirred up. The noun form was used of riots or revolts in the Roman Empire during the first century (Moulton & Milligan, Vocabulary, p.625). Jesus' emotions were rioting within Him. There was chaos in His spirit - turmoil in His soul. He was being ripped apart from within because He knew what was coming.

The verb is passive telling us His inner riot was caused by an outside person, namely Judas. Jesus has just quoted from Psalm 41:9 which is a psalm by David after he was betrayed by his own son, Absalom, and his trusted adviser, Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15). The parallels are striking.  David prefigured Jesus. Absalom and Ahithophel both ate meals with David as loved and trusted confidants in his inner circle. Ahithophel hanged himself after his betrayal (2 Samuel 17:23) just like Judas would soon do. They were friends who ate bread together but lifted up the heel to kick the one who fed them.  Like the kick of a mule in the gut, Jesus felt the pain of betrayal.

The closest friends cause the greatest hurts.  Betrayal by a loved one is like a kick in the solar plexus. Judas, like Absalom and Ahithophel, was a trusted friend and leader. No one, in the whole company of disciples, suspected he was a traitor. He was honored and trusted to keep the money and was seated in the position of honor at the banquet beside Jesus Himself. Absalom was hugely popular with the people. Ahithophel was respected as a counselor.  Respected church leaders sting the most when they betray others in the church. The betrayal of a spouse wounds very deeply.  Close friends can turn against us when we least expect it.  Jesus knows exactly how you feel for He has felt that inner riot of emotions too. Bring your hurts to the one who has experienced those same hurts and can heal your deepest wounds.