A NEW COMMAND

November, Friday 25th, 2016

John 13:18-38

1. One of you will betray me (18-30)

Satan attacked unity using someone who was weak. Judas became an easy prey to him because of his selfishness and his cupidity. Jesus talked about his treason in advance in order to protect his community from the hand of Satan (19). Jesus also talked about it in advance in order to give traitorous Judas his chance to repent and come back to the right way. But once submitted to Satan, Judas couldn't recover. When he left from the place, Judas still had a morsel of bread in his hand. "It was night". This short sentence represents the heart of Judas. Submitted to Satan, his heart was terribly dark. The life vanquished by sin is terribly dark.

2. Love one another (31-38)

After the departure of Judas, Jesus needed to restore unity of his band. First, Jesus says to the disciples as he said to the Pharisees, that they will not see him again. So, as testament, Jesus renewed his words: "Love one another". It was a new commandment. The commandment to love his fellow man existed, but Jesus renewed it so that it has a new sense. In Jesus, love has a new sense. Because true love is expressed by Jesus. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends, says Jesus. Jesus' love is sacrificial and unconditional. No human's love can equal it. We can love one another when we have Jesus' love. Peter thought that he had love, but it was human - in effet, he avoided washing dirty feet of others. Yet it didn't augur well. It was a sign that his love will be about to faint sooner or later.

Prayer: Lord, have mercy on me so that I not betray your mercy and not become victim of Satan. Help me to love another with Jesus' love.

Bottom line: the new commandment of Jesus