Love One Another

John 13:1–17; 34–35

13Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Historical Context

During his last meal with the disciples Jesus performs a rite that has become customary in many churches ever since: the washing of the disciples’ feet. It was a proof of his love for them, an example of service they were supposed to follow. Jesus sounds engaged and positive in verses 1-20, but all of the sudden he becomes troubled in spirit. The word used to express this feeling is tarasso, which usually refers to anger or indignation.1 Jesus is vexed at the prospects that one of his disciples, Judas, is about to betray him. Such an attitude is virtually a sign of shame on the group’s leader, and the fact that the disciples asked him about who among them was going to do such an unthinkable thing, proves it.

Theme: Love One Another

If you knew you were about to die, what would you tell the people you love? What cherished hope or dream would you share? What last, urgent piece of advice would you offer?

In our Gospel reading this week, we hear Jesus’s answer to this difficult question.  Judas has left the Last Supper in order to carry out his betrayal, the crucifixion clock is ticking fast and hard, and Jesus knows that his disciples are about to face the greatest devastation of their lives.  So he gets right to the point.  No parables, no stories, no pithy sayings.  Just one commandment.  One simple, straightforward commandment, summarizing Jesus’s deepest desire for his followers: “Love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” And then, right on the heels of the commandment, a promise.  Or maybe an incentive.  Or maybe a warning: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Meaning, love is the litmus test of Christian witness.  Our love for each other is how the world will know who we are and whose we are.  Our love for each other is how the world will see, taste, touch, hear, and find Jesus. It’s through our love that we will embody Jesus, make Jesus relatable, possible, plausible, to a dying world.