John 13:31-38 - Homiletics

Separation and its issue.

The departure of Judas sets Jesus free to discourse familiarly with his disciples.

I. THE TRAITOR 'S DEPARTURE IS THE SIGNAL FOR THE REDEEMER 'S GLORIFICATION . "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him."

1. Jesus regards his death, now so near, as involving his glorification .

II. THE APPROACHING SEPARATION OF JESUS FROM HIS DISCIPLES . "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you."

1. The language is that of deep affection and solicitude . He sympathizes with the disciples in their coming bereavement, They are soon to be orphans.

2. The disciples would experience a longing to rejoin him after the separation which was now at hand .

3. They were not yet ready to follow him .

(a) The period of his absence was to be a season of spiritual growth. Love to one another, with the mutual sacrifices involved in it, would be the realization of his presence among them.

(b) The commandment of love was new in its scope and motive, though love was always the principle of the Decalogue. It was new,

( α ) as it was enjoined after a new model—"even as I have loved you;"

( β ) as it was love to brethren—to "the new creation;"

( γ ) as it arose out of a new necessity—"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." This love was to be a badge of discipleship. The world would thus understand the true meaning of Christianity.

III. PETER 'S ANXIETY TO KNOW OUR LORD 'S DESTINATION , AND HIS EAGERNESS TO DIE WITH HIM . "Lord, whither goest thou?"

1. The question marks the disciple ' s loving regard for his Master , from whom he would not be separated in life or in death.

2. Yet it suggests that his mind was occupied with the idea of his Lord ' s establishment of a temporal kingdom . Where was he going? Was not Jerusalem to be the center of the coming kingdom? The answer of Jesus declares the separation to be inevitable , but only temporary . "Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards."

4. Peter ' s determination to follow his Master to death . "Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake."

5. Our Lord ' s prediction of Peter ' s fall . "The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice."