31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once.

33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 13:31-35 (NLT)

Glory

Jesus continues to prepare the disciples for His departure. He first explains His glory (used 5 times in two verses): 

• He will soon enter it (return to it). Jesus laid it aside at His incarnation. (Php 2:7)
• God is glorified because of Jesus. He was obedient even to death. (Php 2:8)
• He gives His glory to the Son. (Psalm 19:1-4)
• God gives the glory right away, immediately.

We must remember that we were created for His glory and find fulfillment and purpose when we glorify Him. (Isaiah 43:7) 

Leaving soon

Then He tells them yet again that He is leaving soon (the immediate glory) and they won’t be able to find Him or go with Him…yet! In John 14:3 He says He goes to prepare a place for us that where He is we may be with Him. In verse 6 He declares He is the Way to that place, to the Father – as well as the truth and the life.

Love like Jesus

Finally, He gives them a new commandment: love one another. And this love is not the way mankind loves one another – a selfish love that looks for “what’s in it for me”. It’s God’s love, a love that lays down its life for the sake of the other (John 15:13). As a friend of mine recently said, “Love as the other needs to be loved, not as I need to be loved”. As this kind of love is demonstrated, others will take notice.

<- Reflection ->

• Do we find our purpose in bringing God glory? 
• We’re challenged every day to love like He does. It’s not easy. It’s impossible! Thank God that the Spirit lives in us!