We have listened this morning to a few of the things Christ said to his disciples a few hours before his death. The words addressed to them on this occasion may well be called his “farewell words.” See for a few moments if we can get the picture. The centre of the picture is a man thirty three and a half years’ old who has worked for three and a half years untiringly — with unceasing willingness to have a stiff-necked, hardhearted people accept his teaching — which would bring them salvation. During that period of time he had performed miracles that no other man had ever performed, in order that his authority might be established. He cured all manner of diseases — caused the lame to walk — the blind to see — the deaf to hear—yea, and even raised the dead. Although he did all these things, although he spake as never man spake, and although it was said of him, “no man can do these miracles that thou does except God be with him,” he was rejected. He knew he would be rejected and he knew his hour had come, when he met with his disciples at the house of Simon the leper a few days before his death. Just before this meeting, we learn of him making a final appeal to them to believe in him.
John 12:44 — “Jesus cried and said, he that believeth not on me, but on him that sent me, and He that seeth me seeth him that sent. I am come a light unto the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness ; if any man hear my words and believe not, I judge him not, for I came not to judge the world but to save the world, he that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him. The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him at the last day. For I have not spoken of myself—but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment what I should say and what I should speak. Whatsoever I speak, therefore, even as the Father said unto me—so I speak.”
Can we not hear the Master speaking these words ? Can we not feel the earnestness with which he must have spoken them?
This was his last public effort by way of preaching to have men and women believe on him. We do not read of him being in public again until he was brought before Caiphais as a prisoner. His public preaching was finished. How did he feel? How would any man feel whose three and a half years of hard work was generally considered a failure ? It would be a natural thing to give up in disgust and despair, but not Christ . His entire work had not been completed, for he had some private matters to attend to. Knowing his disciples did not realise that he must soon suffer and be taken away from them, it was necessary to impress this upon them, and also give them words of comfort to keep them strong in the Faith when left alone. He met with them at the house of Simon the leper. All were sitting around the table eating supper. To his disciples this would be just another time of eating, in which they could enter into conversation. It meant a he should depart out of this world unto the Father. This, of course, did not fit in with the disciples’ idea of his being their King, and receiving high places in his Kingdom. He endeavoured to explain to them just what they should expect — and that which would be expected of them after he left them.
The first great lesson was humility. “He riseth from supper and laid aside his garments and girded himself.” This attire was befitting that of a servant. He washed their feet — then pointed out to them the lesson of his act : “Know ye what I have done to you ? Ye call me Master and Lord—I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” Not the literal washing of feet, but that the “servant is not greater than his lord ; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” Judas Iscariot was at this supper — Jesus washed his feet. Judas heard these words of Christ — still he changed not. At the Passover Supper shortly after, Jesus pointed him out as the betrayer. When Jesus identified him as the betrayer he said to him, “That thou doest, do quickly.” Judas then “went immediately out.” Up until this moment it seems as though Christ was under some great restraint. Notice his words after Judas went out. They were not in reference to Judas—not in reference to his near ordeal —as if in triumph he said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God glorified in Him.”
Jesus welcomed the hour of his glory. Then he opened his heart to his disciples. The general conversation had stopped and they were gathered around him now to listen to his words. They remembered he said “with desire I have desired to eat this Passover Supper with you,” therefore, they were attentive. We cannot express the wisdom, beauty and eloquence of these words at this time. “A new commandment I give unto you—that ye love one another ; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” In what way was this a new commandment ? Did not the law say, “love thy neighbour as thyself?” What is the difference ? “Even as I have loved you.” He loved his neighbour more than himself—He laid down his life for his friends. He asked them to follow him. Love your enemies—lay down your life if necessary—surely it was a new commandment. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have loved one another.” His love was for those things which are divine. Those things that were excellent therefore captured our Master’s affections. He knew of the great benefit and joy of being a child of God and desired, therefore, to have brethren. To His brethren he displayed great love in sharing with them, while He lived, all the goodness received from His Father—finally giving His life for them.
He wanted them to have no strife among themselves, for they were to live peacefully with each other. Brethren, brotherly love is a wonderful thing — greater than we will ever realise in this life. There is a brotherly love in a blood relation sense, that arises out of a sense of sharing the good derived from the same parent. But the love required in the Scriptures is of another kind — much higher than that of blood relationship—it is Love by Commandment—not of natural affection either. In His Sermon on the Mount, he said, “Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause is in danger of the judgement.” There would be no difficulty in loving those who are lovable, no glory would attach to that, but the love of Christ goes far beyond that. It is required in all directions, especially where it will not be found naturally. Matthew 5 :44— “Love ye your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you.” It seems almost impossible—yet Christ did it—and He is an example for us to follow. Can we exemplify Him in His love? It is not natural for anyone to eradicate a dislike for another quickly ; yet, in time it may be overcome by employing Christ’s method of overcoming. If we love Christ we are bound to love each other for his sake. We will hold back natural influences in references to likes and dislikes, and remember Christ commanded us to love one another. When we exemplify Christ’s love, we shall be loved of God and of Christ.
Christ wanted his disciples to become a part of that unity that existed between him and His Father and said to them, “if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” “If ye love me, keep my commandments, and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter that He may abide with you forever.” “I will not leave you comfortless . . . I am in the Father, and ye in me, and I in you. My Father is greater than I.”
Perfect fellowship held out to them to remain faithful. They would not be left comfortless. This was exalting His Father to the highest degree. “If ye love me, ye would rejoice because I said I go unto the Father, for my Father is greater than I.” Greater joy was offered to them to remain in His love, to maintain a perfect unity between them, Himself and His Father. How can we be a part of that unity ? By listening to and obeying the voice of Jesus, whose appearance in Israel was the visitation and revelation of the One God.
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me ; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One