When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 [If God is glorified in him,] God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. 33 My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you. 34 I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. 35 This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36 Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered [him], “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” 37 Peter said to him, “Master, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”
Jesus was deeply troubled over his coming betrayal by Judas (Jn. 13:21). He had offered Judas a morsel, a sign of friendship, a chance to change his mind and Judas took it but still persevered with his evil plan to betray Jesus (Jn. 13:26-27). Jesus spoke about his glorification and announced his departure (v. 33). The Son of Man was glorified by God because his mission has been completed and as a result of his ministry God had been glorified in him. He addressed his disciples as “children (v. 33)” and told them, as he had previously told the Pharisees, that he will soon be leaving them and going where they cannot follow (Jn. 7:33-34).
The new commandment Jesus gave his disciples was exemplified by his own sacrifice for those who loved him and those whom he loved (Jn. 13:1). “Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit that he gave us (1 Jn. 3:24).” Loving our brother is required for salvation; “'Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall (1 Jn. 2:10).” The disciples did not understand what Jesus told them about leaving and Peter asked, “Master, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you (v. 37).” In his response, Jesus predicted Peter’s denial (Lk. 22:54-61).
Almighty Father, we are weak and lack understanding and hope that through your love and compassion you will guide and protect us. Forgive our daily denials of your presence and our hardness of heart in refusing to relinquish all that keeps us separated from you. Let your Spirit mold us into your true sons and daughters that will joyously be obedient to your bidding. This we pray through Christ our ord. Amen!
__________________________________
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Comments