John 13:21-30
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.”
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
“What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, 28 but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
Title: Walang Iwanan, walang talikuran
Introduction: Do you remember the love song from Karate Kid 2
“The Glory of Love” sung by Pete Cetera- it goes like this…
“I am a man who will fight for your honor
I’ll be the hero you’re dreaming of
We’ll live forever
Knowing together that we
Did it all for the glory of love”
It speaks of Daniel san love for Michiko-a Japanese lass in the island of Okinawa.
We will be meditating today another kind of love- the one suggested by our Preaching Calendar.
With all the pomp and display of wealth and power of the candidates (Psalm 49:12)-we will for this time be irrelevant-as if we don’t care what is happening around us. We will be transported to another place and time.
- 1. Glory: Read > John 13:31-32
31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
The background of this text is from John 12:23-33
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it stays alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit.
25 He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I to this hour.
28 Father, glorify your name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spoke to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
Kaya’t title ko po ay Walang Iwanan-walang talikuran
It speaks first of glory-but what do we know about GLORY?
English Dictionary:
- Brilliant radiant beauty:
Parang babaeng pang Binibining Pilipinas naka evening gown.o isang mayamang lalaki na puro italiano ang brand ng mga suot na galling sa isang sasakyan na may chaefeur.
- An indication radiant light like around a saint
Santo na may halo
- A state of high honor
Parang isang Olympic medalist na ginagawaran ng Gold medal-o katulad ng nangyari kay Manny Pacquiao na iniikot sa Maynila at sinasalubong ng mga tao.
Biblical Meaning:
Glory (Heb. kabhod; Gr. doxa).
As Applied to External Things
Then, and more commonly, glory belongs to men, and especially to men of prominence, like kings. This glory may consist in wealth, power, portion, or even in the inherent majesty and dignity of character of its possessor. The reference is most frequently, however, to the external manifestations.
Negative example: The glory and the pomp of the rebellious people shall descend into Sheol >(Isa_5:14).
“Therefore hell has enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoices, shall descend into it.”
Here the reference is clearly to those external things upon which the people depend, and the possession of which is the ground of their confidence.
Different is God’s Glory!
1 Chro 29:11 >
“Yours, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is yours; your is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.”
11 Iyo, Oh Panginoon ang kadakilaan, at ang kapangyarihan, at ang kaluwalhatian, at ang pagtatagumpay, at ang karangalan: sapagka’t lahat na nangasa langit at nangasa lupa ay iyo: iyo ang kaharian, Oh Panginoon, at ikaw ay nataas na pangulo sa lahat.
Do you remember the song by the band –Survivor
“Ever since the world began”
“and we’re just another piece of the puzzle,
Just another part of the plan,
How one live touches the other
Is so hard to understand —
Still we walk this road together,
We try and go as far as we can,
And we have waited for this moment in time,
Ever since the world began. “
Ever since the world began. The glory that the Father and Son experienced in eternity-will be experienced in space and time-can we take it? Kaya ba natin ito?
Do you know that our sun is only medium size star? And yet we cannot look at it directly-we will be blinded. Only during solar eclipse-and yet still indirectly thru water can we see a glimpse of its splendor and brightness.
And there are bigger suns-bigger stars in the universe. If our sun is a pea-size, then other stars are watermelon sized.
And yet this cannot compare with the glory and brightness of our God-Moses must be sheltered even to see the passing glimpse of God’s glory. God’s glory is not merely visible to the eyes-it s to the hearts and soul of men. Nanunuot sa kalalim laliman.
And yet we easily show our awe and adoration of human achievements and splendor. Madali tayong masilaw ng kaluwalhatian ng mga tao.
But the great mystery of God’s glory in His Son-is that it is mentioned in between the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter-why? There must be something in God’s glory that we don’t understand?
“What did it mean for Jesus to glorify the Father? He tells us in His prayer:
4 I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify you me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was.
This is the way all of us glorify God, by faithfully doing what He calls us to do. Even in the face of friend’s betrayal and triple denial. And the horror of what must follow.
In our Lord’s case, the Father’s will was that the Son die for lost sinners, be raised from the dead, and then ascend to heaven. The Son glorified the Father and the Father glorified the Son.”
Calvin says in his commentary “but nowhere has it shone more brightly than in the cross, in which there has been an astonishing change of things, the condemnation of all men has been manifested, sin has been blotted out, salvation has been restored to men; and, in short, the whole world has been renewed, and every thing restored to good order. “
Ibig Sabihin-kung ano ang napagkasunduan-yung hanggang sa dulo- yung ang tutuparin.
Ever since the world began. Walang mang-iiwan. Walang tatalikod sa isa’t-isa.
Man’s glory is just for awhile-so is a woman-for just a moment.
The glory of the Sun and stars might last for an eon or million of years and yet it will go nova or supernova.
But nothing can compare to God’s glory.
2. You can’t follow> Read John 13:33
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You shall seek me: and as I said to the Jews, Where I go, you cannot come; so now I say to you.
As a father is leaving his children-he also called them his teknia-little children. Apostle John also uses this affectionately to Christians when he is also old.
Is Jesus here speaking of His suffering and death? Or His ascension into heaven?
In John 18:7-9
7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek you? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore you seek me, let these go their way:
9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Of them which you gave me have I lost none.
They cannot follow him-only Jesus is required to undergo the horror and suffering of the cross. Jesus sees that it is something that the devil will try to throw everything at him-and there will be collateral damage- No man will be strong enough-except the Son of Man-the Son of God can withstand.
And not only physically-but also spiritually he must conquer death-and lead those Old testament saints waiting for him in Abraham’s bosom to lead them into Heaven.
And in the end –he must also lead the Host of Heaven in the great battle of Armageddon –so that the dwelling of God will be amongst men again
In the New Earth and New Heaven!-Only He can take that route-only he alone. A lonely road that he must take. Alone.
ILL: Almost all leaders must take this route. We must make the tough decisions. take the long time of planning, thinking, talking and negotiating and then actually doing it. We must make the sacrifice so that the others will be benefitted.
Ganyan ang project management. Para magkaroon ng trabaho ang ibang tao.
Have you installed the Windows software and others application in your computer-without the help of technician. I had-it took me days to install all the software –so that my children will be able to use it. Sometimes I fell sleep in front of the computer while installing, rebooting and checking if the programs are running right.
Remember Ninoy? He was in Boston-living a happy life. while the NPA’s and MNLF’s armies getting large-and the Marcos regime is leaning down to fall –and the like vultures-they will take advantage of the situation. Yet he cannot remain serene-he must talk to Marcos-and talk about the future of the country. He alone can do it. Only he –has the stature to match Marcos. He alone must go down that airplane into the tarmac and the hands of the Avsecom soldiers. And the rest is history.
Like William Wallace-meeting with nobles-betrayed to English king-tortured and butchered.
Only Jesus can do this-no one alive then-nor today can take His place. This is his honor-this is his glory!
The Pulpit Commentary says: “The time is not yet come for you to enter into my glory; you cannot yet come, you have to continue my earthly ministry, to prolong the testimony which I have given concerning God, and which God has given concerning me. The time will come when “I will receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also;” but now he prays, “though I am no more in this world, these are in the world holy Father, guard or secure them” (John 17:11).”
Then only after this he mentioned about love…
3. Love> John 13: 34-35
34 A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.
What is so new about this commandment to love? The OT already told us to Love God-then love our neighbor.
Then Jesus previously told us to love our enemies. So what is new with this command?
In the following years after his death and resurrection-they will be facing great challenges and persecution from two fronts: the Jewish Harlot religion-compromised by its alliance with the Roman Imperial Beast which required worship of the Emperor Caesar.
Their leaders will be hunted, tortured and killed. How do you think other Christians will be made safe then-due to threat of torture and slow death-death through crucifixion, wild beast in the arena, stoning, gladiatorial battle, being the torch that will light the streets of Rome.
Many will fall-
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
3 Walang katutubong pagibig, mga walang paglulubag, mga palabintangin, mga walang pagpipigil sa sarili, mga mabangis, hindi mga maibigin sa mabuti,
4 Mga lilo, mga matitigas ang ulo, mga palalo, mga maibigin sa kalayawan kay sa mga maibigin sa Dios;
5 Na may anyo ng kabanalan, datapuwa’t tinanggihan ang kapangyarihan nito
These supposed Christians will be become traitors against their fellow Christians!
And how we can differentiate the true one from the fake?
“By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.”
“Sa ganito’y mangakikilala ng lahat ng mga tao na kayo ay aking mga alagad, kung kayo’y may pagibig sa isa’t isa.”
The glory of the Father and Son is that they love one another-even the world began-And this is glory!
Now –after he have gone thru the hell of it and into heaven’s throne-He is commanding us to show that same glory amongst Christians-
Walang mang-iiwan-walang tatalikod. Hanggang matapos and mundong ito-hanggang matapos ang layunin at misyon natin ditto sa daigdig na ito.
It is new because –it is not by our bravery we will be known-it is our commitment to each other that we will be distinguished by the world. It is our commitment to love as Jesus loved us-even to the point of death.
This is new. God cannot die. But as a man-Jesus have to die for the sins of the whole world. He has to die for them- he calls his own. His own sheep hears his voice-different from the voice of the stranger. Since the Father and he is one-united in being God –united in purpose-united in the glory before the world is… He can hold their lives –from beginning to the end of time. They are secure in Jesus.
“This entoley, on the other hand, would be based on a new principle, and measured by a higher standard, and even mean more than love of self altogether. Christ’s love to his disciples was self-abandoning, self-sacrificing love.” Ibibigay niya ang lahat-kahit wala nang matira sa kanya. Maski masaktan siya at kalimutan siya ng kanyang minamahal.
They will love-as He loved them. They will not betray or deny each other-even to the point of swords, axes, gallows and what the Harlot and the Beast will throw at them. Maski kaldero itapon – di mang-iiwan o tatalikod. They will love each other until their dying breath.
This is how history-even the Roman Emperors will grudgingly admit-that we love each other. It is through this that the Empire was conquered by the Kingdom of God. It is through this that the world will also be conquered. Walang Iwanan, walang talikuran
Application:
The first question we must answer is-
Do we know this love of Jesus in our lives-in our hearts? Or is it a story –a gossip only for us. Not true-but just second hand news? Do we know that he can forgive our sins-since He paid it there in the cross at Calvary?
Do we know that as the Son is His Father’s own and glory-do we also know –in our heart and soul-that we are owned by Jesus- and that He died –not just for the whole world-in the abstract-but for us-for us-in the cross.? We cannot go on-unless we are sure here. Search our hearts-speak to it and know-Is Jesus our beloved-and I am His?
The second question is:
Do our lives revolve around the commitment to give God and His Son glory first?
Let us check –from the nearest to the farthest relationship we have if this is true.
Nearest- Wife and children:
Are we willing to make extra effort so that they may know Jesus and that their commitment be safe and secure in him? Do we teach the bible to our children and wife-or at least encourage them and support them with funds so that they can gain in knowledge and devotion of the Lord Jesus Christ? Or is our job, our hobbies, our past time –our prime blockbusters of our use of time? Please check the use of your time and change accordingly.
If a gun is pointed in our head- will we still not tell our persecutors-where our wife and children are hiding?
Near- Local church/ community:
Do we spend our time and resources –so that our fellow Christians will be taught of the bible and that their devotion to the Lord Jesus will be strengthened? If some of our church mates needs help-do we close our eyes and ears to their pleas-and justify that they should first take care of themselves. Yes-this is true –personal responsibility is also required by the Lord-but what if they really needed our help-and there is no one else to help-will we see in them- the Lord who commands us to love each other? Do we really pray for them-when they ask us ?
Let us go those far from us
Far- Other Churches/denomination
Do we maintain the bond of peace with our fellow brothers in our denomination-and more so of different denomination or church tradition? They are not perfect-so are we? We started this way in the 1980’s –how come we are seen as competitors now? Can we not learn from each other-so that the world will see-that we are not really different-but both as aspect of Jesus’ glory amongst them. Ang kaluwalhatian ni Hesus na makikita ng mga tao-para sila ay lumapit sa Kanya. If thy have wrong us before-did we learn to cast the anger and hurt so that others may see that even here too-His blood can heal us.
Farther- Open Doors watch list
Every day in at least 40 countries-many Christians are considered criminals or illegal in their own countries:
Like the following: Read the Watch list
Can we stop for a minute or two –three times a day just to pray for them?
Can we contribute money to mission organizations like the Open Doors or even our denomination that nurtures or strengthen them?
Or maybe you are being called by God to be become a missionary to such places –it is still a viable option-maybe a tentmaker working secretly to prepare for the day that they will be free. Ps Ed Lapiz started this way.
Conclusion:
Next time you hear this song:
“I am a man who will fight for your honor
I’ll be the hero you’re dreaming of
We’ll live forever
Knowing together that we
Did it all for the glory of love”
May you remember that Jesus is first the one who knows the glory of love-and that he is inviting us-through His the power that sustains the universe-and secures our salvation-to the glory of loving each other-just as he loved us. Read John 13: 34
Walk by Grace thru Faith 