Lessons Jesus Taught His Disciples
Lesson One • Final Class
Pastor Chuck Lindsey
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
1. If you knew that you had one day left on planet Earth, how would you spend it?
Would you spend it at work? Probably not. Would you spend it playing golf or working on the house? Again, not likely. Most people would want to be with the people they love. My final day would be spent with my wife, children, family, and friends.
2. Now, if you only had one day left, gathered together with those you love, what would you say to them?
Would you talk about what the Tigers were going to do this year, the current political situation, or the grievances you have against someone else? Again, not likely. I think most people would want to try to say all the things that mean something; things that are meaningful and important. It would be a time to impart important life lessons to our children. We would convey the love we have for someone. We would express our thankfulness. We would ignore the trivial and say the important things, the things that matter.
On the night before the Lord Jesus would suffer and die, He was with us, His people. He was with His disciples. He loved them. They (with the exception of Judas) loved Him. Although He was going to the horrors and suffering of the cross for our sins, He spent His last night with them, with us. He wanted to be with them. Not only was He with them, but He spoke to them. He said many things, each of which is rich with life’s most important truths. As you come into John chapter 13 and begin to read of Jesus eating with His disciples, it is immediately clear that He was not there for a meal. He was there to be with them, to gather them close, and to say important things.
3. What are some of the details you remember from the time at the last meal?
One of those great truths is found in the words of John 13:34 where Jesus says to His disciples, “A new commandment I give to you.” Now, right there, because of the word Jesus used for “commandment” (Greek “entole”), their minds would have immediately flashed to the Ten Commandments given to Moses on the mountain. Jesus’ words, first and foremost, make it clear that He is God. Who can add to “the Ten Commandments” except God? God gave Moses the ten, and Jesus adds another. He does so because He is God. John 10:30 says, “I and My Father are one” (NKJV).
4. How many of the Ten Commandments can you list?
Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.” This “new commandment” seems simple enough. In fact, it is rather easy to say. However, in practice, it is like all of the other commands, impossible to keep apart from the Spirit of God at work in us. More on this in a moment. First, we see that the word Jesus uses for “love” (Greek “agape”) is infinitely greater than the world’s ideas of love. The Greek word “agape” is by definition, a love that can only come from God. It is not human in its origin. It is divine. It is selfless. It is sacrificial. It is giving and serving. It is always doing what is best for the other person. It is God’s love toward us. Here, Jesus tells us to “love” (agape) other Christians. Yes, we are to love the lost and unsaved, but here Jesus is telling us to love our fellow believers. We are to “love” them with a love that only comes from Him.
5. Why do you think He emphasized loving believers at this time?
The words “as I have loved you,” shows the extent to which we are to love fellow Christians. The new command is not: “be fond of, or friendly with, put up with or endure each other.” It is to genuinely, deeply, selflessly, and sacrificially love our brothers and sisters in Christ. It has no simulation. This is real. It is as Hebrews 10:24 says to “consider one another.” It is as Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV) says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out only for our own interests, but also for the interests of others.” In short, we are to go against the human “norm” of focusing primarily on myself and my needs and to be like the Lord Jesus who “loved us and gave Himself for us” (Ephesians 5:2).
6. What are some ways in which we can show love to fellow believers?
It bears repeating, that this kind of “love” is not human. It comes from God. God is its source. He is the well of agape love. Therefore, it cannot be retrieved from within, it must be received from above. Galatians 5:22 (NKJV) tells us that this kind of love only comes from the Holy Spirit of God at work in us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love” (Greek agape). “Fruit” means that it is something the Holy Spirit of God produces in us as we see our need for Him, His work, and depend on Him and His power. This means that instead of trying to muster up love from some magical well we think we have inside of us for someone, we should rather admit our need and ask for Him to fill us, work in our hearts, and give us agape love.
7. What is the rest of the Fruit of the Spirit?
8. What could be some reasons for “love” being listed first?
As we show this kind of love to fellow Christians, Jesus says it shows something to the unsaved world. It makes a statement. He says that this is one of the primary ways that the world will know that we are His people. John 13:35 (NKJV) says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Fish stickers, Christian t-shirts and hats, cross necklaces, or even the Bible in your car are all well and good as some kind of indication that you are a follower of Jesus Christ, but none of it is as effective as actually loving fellow Christians. When the world sees all kinds of people, every race, from every place on Earth, and every imaginable walk of life (with all the quirks and uniqueness that make us people) lovingly committed to each other, it makes no earthly sense. It powerfully says that we are held together some other way, some unknown way to this world. It says that we are His people. It should be clear, that the world does not do this! The unsaved world is constantly walking away from and quitting on each other. Relationships get strained and words are said. The response is “I am done, I don’t need this.” Things are done, and the response is “I’m out.” That’s the way of the unbelieving world.
It is truly and dramatically counter-cultural to remain lovingly committed to each other as Jesus commands us to do. I think this is the reason that the devil attacks our unity as Christians so often and so fiercely. When the world sees Christians fighting, churches splitting, “Jesus people” belittling each other, and taking each other to court, it says that we are not any different than they are. It tells them that there is nothing to this Christianity “thing.” How tragic it is to see professing believers fighting. Our Lord hates it. Proverbs 6:19 (NKJV) describes them as “one who sows discord among brethren.”
Do you want people to know that you are a follower of Jesus Christ? Agape love, which can only be received, is the way to both show and prove it.
9. Who do you want to ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with love for?
1. If you knew that you had one day left on planet Earth, how would you spend it?
Would you spend it at work? Probably not. Would you spend it playing golf or working on the house? Again, not likely. Most people would want to be with the people they love. My final day would be spent with my wife, children, family, and friends.
2. Now, if you only had one day left, gathered together with those you love, what would you say to them?
Would you talk about what the Tigers were going to do this year, the current political situation, or the grievances you have against someone else? Again, not likely. I think most people would want to try to say all the things that mean something; things that are meaningful and important. It would be a time to impart important life lessons to our children. We would convey the love we have for someone. We would express our thankfulness. We would ignore the trivial and say the important things, the things that matter.
On the night before the Lord Jesus would suffer and die, He was with us, His people. He was with His disciples. He loved them. They (with the exception of Judas) loved Him. Although He was going to the horrors and suffering of the cross for our sins, He spent His last night with them, with us. He wanted to be with them. Not only was He with them, but He spoke to them. He said many things, each of which is rich with life’s most important truths. As you come into John chapter 13 and begin to read of Jesus eating with His disciples, it is immediately clear that He was not there for a meal. He was there to be with them, to gather them close, and to say important things.
3. What are some of the details you remember from the time at the last meal?
One of those great truths is found in the words of John 13:34 where Jesus says to His disciples, “A new commandment I give to you.” Now, right there, because of the word Jesus used for “commandment” (Greek “entole”), their minds would have immediately flashed to the Ten Commandments given to Moses on the mountain. Jesus’ words, first and foremost, make it clear that He is God. Who can add to “the Ten Commandments” except God? God gave Moses the ten, and Jesus adds another. He does so because He is God. John 10:30 says, “I and My Father are one” (NKJV).
4. How many of the Ten Commandments can you list?
Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.” This “new commandment” seems simple enough. In fact, it is rather easy to say. However, in practice, it is like all of the other commands, impossible to keep apart from the Spirit of God at work in us. More on this in a moment. First, we see that the word Jesus uses for “love” (Greek “agape”) is infinitely greater than the world’s ideas of love. The Greek word “agape” is by definition, a love that can only come from God. It is not human in its origin. It is divine. It is selfless. It is sacrificial. It is giving and serving. It is always doing what is best for the other person. It is God’s love toward us. Here, Jesus tells us to “love” (agape) other Christians. Yes, we are to love the lost and unsaved, but here Jesus is telling us to love our fellow believers. We are to “love” them with a love that only comes from Him.
5. Why do you think He emphasized loving believers at this time?
The words “as I have loved you,” shows the extent to which we are to love fellow Christians. The new command is not: “be fond of, or friendly with, put up with or endure each other.” It is to genuinely, deeply, selflessly, and sacrificially love our brothers and sisters in Christ. It has no simulation. This is real. It is as Hebrews 10:24 says to “consider one another.” It is as Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV) says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out only for our own interests, but also for the interests of others.” In short, we are to go against the human “norm” of focusing primarily on myself and my needs and to be like the Lord Jesus who “loved us and gave Himself for us” (Ephesians 5:2).
6. What are some ways in which we can show love to fellow believers?
It bears repeating, that this kind of “love” is not human. It comes from God. God is its source. He is the well of agape love. Therefore, it cannot be retrieved from within, it must be received from above. Galatians 5:22 (NKJV) tells us that this kind of love only comes from the Holy Spirit of God at work in us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love” (Greek agape). “Fruit” means that it is something the Holy Spirit of God produces in us as we see our need for Him, His work, and depend on Him and His power. This means that instead of trying to muster up love from some magical well we think we have inside of us for someone, we should rather admit our need and ask for Him to fill us, work in our hearts, and give us agape love.
7. What is the rest of the Fruit of the Spirit?
8. What could be some reasons for “love” being listed first?
As we show this kind of love to fellow Christians, Jesus says it shows something to the unsaved world. It makes a statement. He says that this is one of the primary ways that the world will know that we are His people. John 13:35 (NKJV) says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Fish stickers, Christian t-shirts and hats, cross necklaces, or even the Bible in your car are all well and good as some kind of indication that you are a follower of Jesus Christ, but none of it is as effective as actually loving fellow Christians. When the world sees all kinds of people, every race, from every place on Earth, and every imaginable walk of life (with all the quirks and uniqueness that make us people) lovingly committed to each other, it makes no earthly sense. It powerfully says that we are held together some other way, some unknown way to this world. It says that we are His people. It should be clear, that the world does not do this! The unsaved world is constantly walking away from and quitting on each other. Relationships get strained and words are said. The response is “I am done, I don’t need this.” Things are done, and the response is “I’m out.” That’s the way of the unbelieving world.
It is truly and dramatically counter-cultural to remain lovingly committed to each other as Jesus commands us to do. I think this is the reason that the devil attacks our unity as Christians so often and so fiercely. When the world sees Christians fighting, churches splitting, “Jesus people” belittling each other, and taking each other to court, it says that we are not any different than they are. It tells them that there is nothing to this Christianity “thing.” How tragic it is to see professing believers fighting. Our Lord hates it. Proverbs 6:19 (NKJV) describes them as “one who sows discord among brethren.”
Do you want people to know that you are a follower of Jesus Christ? Agape love, which can only be received, is the way to both show and prove it.
9. Who do you want to ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with love for?