Scripture: John 13:31-35
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and in him God is glorified; 32 if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, `Where I am going you cannot come.' 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Meditation: How does God reveal his glory to us? In his Last Supper discourse Jesus speaks of his glory and the glory of his Father.What is this glory? It is the cross which Jesus speaks of here. The cross of Jesus shows us that the greatest glory in life is the glory of willingly sacrificing one's life for the sake of another. In the cross God reveals the breadth of his great love for sinners and the power of redemption which cancels the debt of sin and reverses the curse of our condemnation. Jesus gave his Father supreme honor and glory through his obedience and willingness to sacrifice his life on the cross. The greatest trust one can give to their commander is the willingness to obey in the line of duty, even to the point of putting oneself in harm's way. In warfare the greatest honor belongs not to those who survive but to those who give the supreme sacrifice of their lives. Jesus also speaks of the Father bringing glory to the Son through the great mystery of the Incarnation and Cross of Christ. God the Father gave us his only begotten Son for our sake, to redeem us from slavery to sin and death. He freely offered his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the world.
There is no greater proof of God's love for us than the Cross of Jesus Christ. In the cross we see a new way of love – a love that is unselfish and selflessly oriented to serving others for their good, and a sacrificial love that is forgiving, compassionate, and merciful beyond comprehension. Jesus commands us, his disciples, to love one another just as he has loved us. How can we love our neighbor selflessly, sacrificially, and with compassion? Through the victory of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we now have full access to God's unlimited mercy, grace, and powr to love and forgive even those who cause us grief and suffering. God gives us new abundant life in his Holy Spirit and he fills our hearts with the supernatural gifts of faith, hope, and love. Paul the Apostle reminds us that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). As we turn to God with trust and obedience, he transforms our hearts and frees us from our hurts and prejudices so that we can freely choose to love others with compassion, kindness, and mercy. The Lord Jesus has set us free from slavery to fear, sin, and prejudice. We are now free to choose for his way of love and holiness. Do you seek to bring glory to God in the way you love and treat others?
"Lord Jesus, your love knows no bounds and your obedience to the Father reverses the curse of our pride and disobedience. May I bring you glory in the sacrifice of my will to the will of the Father and in my love and compassion for others, both for those who treat me well and for those who cause me grief or harm."
Psalm 145:1,8-13
1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name for ever and
ever.
8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger
and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The LORD is good to all, and his compassion
is over all that he has made.
10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
and all your saints shall bless you!
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your
power,
12 to make known to the sons of men your mighty deeds, and the glorious
splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures
throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in
all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.