Thoughts on the Gospel of John (131) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, Where I am going, you cannot come, so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:33–35

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (131)
For the first time the Lord addresses His disciples as “little children”. On the one hand, He sees them as those who have been brought into the family of God (cf. ch. 1:12). On the other hand, they need His loving attention, because He will only be with them for a short time. On the way to heaven none could then follow Him. Unlike now, while Jesus lived here on earth anyone could literally come to Him. But in this literal sense, nobody can go to Him now. Believers are instead waiting for the moment when the Lord comes again to receive them into glory (ch. 14:2–3).

This new situation brings with it a new commandment: believers on earth are to love one another. This is more than loving one’s neighbour as oneself; it is love as Jesus Himself revealed it in His earthly life. This love shows something of the nature of God. It is a power that is tirelessly and unceasingly active for others.

“As I have loved you,” says the Lord, setting the standard for love within the family of God. And how did He love? Regarding this He later says: “As the Father loved me, I also have loved you” (ch. 15:9). The quality of love that exists between God the Father and His Son is also found among true disciples of Jesus. They have divine life in them and show through mutual love that they belong to a different world, a heavenly world.

Today’s reading: Deuteronomy 8:1-20 · Matthew 23:13-22