April 25th Reflection by Bill Lynch

John 13:31-35

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
Judas had just departed from the table to go betray Jesus. To be glorified, Jesus was going to be separated from his disciples. Not merely separated, but the journey to the cross and Jesus' suffering and death would be a lonely undertaking. Only Jesus could bare our sin. Only Jesus was capable of paying the price. Jesus would be capable of showing such love that would be able to save all people throughout all time.

And it's this type of love Jesus wants us to show for one another. A new commandment for us to love one another. If we want to see this type of love alive, we can look to the life of Jesus. This love is defined by Jesus and is an honest love... a sometimes brutally honest love that demands faith, passion and action.

In this love we will know one another. Contrast this love with the phony love shown by many that are really our human perversions of establishing influence and manipulation of another person. Jesus love does not manipulate us like the love used to gain control of another person. Jesus' love leads us to the cross and demands for us to decide in faith if we believe. And if we do believe the proof is in our response to that love. Does our response show that same love towards God and towards one another? That's how we will be known as Jesus disciples. We will live the love of Jesus on our sleeves open for all the world to see, not for our own gain or recognition, but rather to the glory of what God has done through Jesus.

Prayer
Father, you have shown great love to all people through Jesus. You have demonstrated that love and brought it right to us. May we believe at the foot of the cross and live the love you show in Jesus with our neighbors... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen