I will come again • John 13:1-14:6
By Clay Anthony
“To hold in the highest esteem, to place the greatest value on, and to show the greatest respect for.”This is how we can best define the word honor. Read that sentence aloud and think of one person’s name to which you can apply that definition.
Are you thinking of a parent or grandparent? Perhaps a former teacher or pastor comes to mind. Yes, we all have persons in our past that are deserving of great honor. What we see in today’s text is John describing how honor is lived out between Jesus, His Father, and His earliest disciples. These are actions that Jesus is due by believers even today.
Honored through love (13:31-35). It is easy to read this passage and hear the tone of Jesus’ voice reveal that He loves His Father. The bond held between the members of the Trinity is a bond that our human minds cannot grasp — to be so close, yet separate, yet operate as One (John 10:30).
This is deep abiding love based on absence. Jesus is leaving (v. 1) and returning to His Father. Indeed, absence makes the heart grow fonder and from a human standpoint, Jesus was headed home. We can relate. Is there anything more loving than that?
What does such love have to do with us? This is a love that ours should mirror. There is a bond between believers and their eternal home that is cemented by love, but also there must be signs of love between believers. Such love honors Jesus but it also is a major catalyst in our witness to the lost (13:35).
Never let it escape our thoughts that Judas did indeed betray Jesus, but he did so with clean feet. Jesus was so full of love that He washed the very feet that led His enemies to the Garden of Gethsemane.
Honored through loyalty (13:36-38). Yes, Peter was full of himself in thinking that he could follow Jesus wherever the road would lead. Unbeknown to Peter, Jesus was headed to death and at that moment, Peter could not follow Jesus.
The death of Jesus would prove to be more than just an ordinary death. His death would pave the way for the forgiveness of sins.
Peter would indeed follow Jesus to the point of death — even to death on his own cross. That is not to celebrate Peter. The other disciples all likewise suffered and died.
Peter’s own brother Andrew received death by crucifixion. Tradition holds that upon seeing his cross from a distance, Andrew remarked, “Oh my cross. How I have longed to have you hold me.”
Countless other believers have lost their lives in the last two millennia due to their faith in Jesus. Yet, again, we do not honor them. We honor the One that is deserving of such loyalty. Jesus is the one that they saw once their life here ended. He is the only reason they received a heavenly reward.
Honored through believing (14:1-4). These verses give Believers many reasons to be referred to as Believers. There is much written here in which to believe.
Jesus’ followers had no problem believing in God. They knew the same stories that you and I do. They knew of Noah, Moses, and David. They knew the Creation story and had memorized the Psalms. They believed God’s story.
It was no great leap for them to simply add further belief in what Jesus brought. They had seen His work and heard His message. What’s not to believe concerning Him? He was leaving them but only so that He could prepare for them an eternal home. That is something to make faith soar.
Jesus promised to one day return so that His church can be in His presence for all time. Not too many days later, those early believers heard that same promise reiterated by angels (Acts 1:11).
We honor Jesus by loving each other and the people around us. We honor Jesus by remaining loyal to His service and call on our lives. We honor Jesus by believing that He is returning to earth a second time.
Yet do not let this truth ever be lost on us: while we anticipate the Second Coming of Jesus, half the population of earth has yet to hear of His first one. What better way to honor the life, work, and glory of King Jesus than to work and give so that all might know Him as Savior?
Anthony is missions pastor at Harrisburg Church, Tupelo. He may be contacted at claynell@aol.com.
