In John 13:31-35 we are given a vision of the Temple of God. If we really consider what was said and done that fateful evening both during and after the meal, we would be able to see that Jesus had taken his disciples on a virtual tour of the Temple of God, with special emphasis given to the Holy of Holies. First, we are taken through the Temple’s outer courts, stopping at the Altar of Sacrifice. This is where Jesus was offered, betrayed and handed over to the priests by Judas (John 13:27). Nevertheless, that evil act deed was overruled by God and used by him to fulfill his own higher plan for mankind (John 10:17-18; 1Timothy 2:6).
Next, we pass from the outer courts of the Temple into the Holy Place, where stands the Light, the Altar of Incense (prayer) and the shewbread, which was eaten by the priests. During the meal, as testified in the Synoptics, the disciples were fed the bread and wine of the New Covenant. Spiritually, this was Jesus’ body and blood that all of Jesus’ disciple could eat, and from which we are given life. However, as is testified here in John (verse-34), we are commanded to love as Jesus loved. He loved us, and we must love one another. Therefore, we also partake of one another, in that we are that one Bread in this world (1Corinthians 10:17), and keep that, in mind in the context of this study, the Table of Bread is prepared for us by our Shepherd and is given us in the presence of our enemies (Psalm 23:5). Thus, they are made to see the love we have for one another, if we are obedient to Jesus’ command.
Finally, Jesus brings us into the Holy of Holies, beyond the curtain, and we are given a vision of himself and God that is nowhere else understood. It is in this place that we are able to see how the crucifixion glorifies God and that God glorifies his Son through the resurrection (John 13:31-32), and it is this Gospel, preached by Jesus’ disciples that overcomes the world and brings the rebels to their knees before their God (cp. 2Corinthians 5:18-20). It is our vision of such love that has become our image to imitate, the Image (Jesus cp. Hebrews 1:3) of the Father giving the Son for our ransom, and of the Son embracing his mission by loving us to the end—with such love as this, we are commanded to love one another.
Finally, because this love is so foreign in the world, not that the world doesn’t know how to love (all love is of God), but the world hated Jesus and the Father, vis-à-vis they chose rebellion over obedience and darkness over Light. However, the love God has for man, which was displayed in Jesus’ flesh, is so foreign to mankind, that, if we love one another with such love, the world will know we are of Christ’s. Moreover, they will know only, if they are able to see this kind of love in us (John 13:35). The odd thing, actually not so odd, if we truly understand what Jesus did here, is that the world was willing enough to listen to us even though they don’t like or believe the message. But, if we live out the message by loving one another with the love Jesus has for mankind, that is noteworthy and they’ll listen.
I am unable to end this study here without a personal observation, comparing what Christ told his disciples that evening to what has become of his disciples, today. Perhaps, I’m overreaching, but I’ll allow whoever reads my remarks to judge for him or herself.
The sad fact is that the Gospel had made great strides in the world, overcoming nations to the point that they changed their behavior according to the Gospel we preached. They may not have become followers of Christ, but they changed how they acted to become more like him, according to our message. Nevertheless, when we began hating one another and living as though Christ had favorite disciples, and we began debating among ourselves who was the greatest (Lutherans, Methodists, Catholics etc.), the world stopped listening. The sad history of Christ’s disciples (i.e. Christians) is that we began to preach the world’s message back at them. We became Republicans trying to convert Democrats (and vice versa), Christ lovers seeking to destroy Christ haters, citizens of a democracy in fear of and opposing the citizens of communism, fascism etc. Instead of standing apart from the world (holy, dedicated to God), we became as though we were **of** the world, seeking to fulfill its hopes and its mission, its desires for greed and violence. Having been seated with Christ in the Holy of Holies, we left our exalted position to aspire to fulfilling the will of God through the methods and expertise of the world. Instead of standing apart from the world at all cost, we became relevant to the world at any price.
Smoodock's Blog 