Holy Week – Wednesday 13 April

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

Reading

John 13.21-35

Jesus Foretells His Betrayal

After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, ‘Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ‘Do quickly what you are going to do.’ Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

The New Commandment

When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

Reflection

The theme of sacrifice persists throughout the lead up to Good Friday. Here, Jesus begins to wrap up his teaching to his disciples with a constant heartbeat: love one another. This love has texture, depth and challenge. Jesus’ words on love are immediately preceded by the reality of the betrayal to come. None of the disciples understood what Judas’ role was going to be. Nor did they foresee that they themselves would desert Jesus. Yet they are told to love one another – with no exceptions.

This is where the instructions bite: it would be much easier to do justice if we could simply give those we dislike what we think they deserve. The Gospel, however, does not allow us this luxury. Jesus’ call is for a group of less-than-perfect disciples to learn to love one another as he had loved them – through the way of the cross.

Prayer

Loving God, create in us the desire to love as you have loved, so that we may love one another as your people, and share this love with all we encounter. Amen.

Today’s family challenge

Learn the song ‘A new commandment I give unto you’

This song is easy to learn and it can help us remember how Jesus tells his disciples they should treat others: ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’