Predictions

Introduction

In 1965, two of the most prolific writers of their era, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, wrote the song “What the World Needs Now Is Love.” That song became the anthem for a generation trying to figure out a world that didn’t make a lot of sense at the time. “What the world needs now is love, sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of. What the world needs now is love, sweet love. No not just for some oh but just for everyone.” Has the need decreased? We know it hasn’t.

The anthem of the 1960s has given way to “my space” and “chat rooms” as people try to connect with one another. While there is more information and more possibilities for global relationships, people still feel isolated and alone too often. We work in cubicles; we lock ourselves behind barred doors; we sit in silence in front of our tvs; we chat in rooms under aliases; fellow surfers leave us short pithy messages with no real substance or a story that is supposed to make us feel good or think or weep and the emotions come but they are shared through a screen not with someone.

Consider the isolation of modern life: your car breaks down and you call Triple A. You need $500 for a car repair and you don’t have it, so you take out a loan from a high interest company. Your kids are challenging your faith, and you read the latest psychobabble. We are struggling with a secret sin and we do all we can to keep up the appearances that everything is okay. The point is this—where are the people who love us? Where are the people that we can love and be loved by those people?

When Jesus said that we are to love one another just as he has loved us, do you think he had something specific in mind? Do you think he was talking about a love that was real and open and vulnerable and giving and genuine? Does the world still need love, sweet love? Do you need it? I want to suggest to you that it is time that we took the words of Jesus seriously and lived them out in our culture. How do we live that kind of love? Watch Jesus.

Betrayal and Denial

Reclining at the Passover table with his most trusted friends, Judas Iscariot has determined to betray Jesus. We are never told why Judas betrays Jesus. But if the Bible did tell us his motivation, it would not change the result. Jesus is going to be murdered as a result of Judas’ action. Jesus is agitated as this betrayal begins (see verse 21). His announcement that one of them eating this meal would betray him is met with understandable disbelief. Jesus reveals who it will be with a sign, but none of the disciples pick up on it. Judas leaves the room and when he does Jesus is now free to discuss matters that are vitally important. From 13:31 through chapter 16 are known as Jesus’ final discourse—Jesus’ final words to those that he loves.

Final words are important words. These final words begins with a direct command—Love each other. But these disciples are not told just simply to love but are told how to love—with the same love as Jesus. Washing disciples’ feet with humility kind of love; dying on a cross kind of love; selfless love; giving love; sacrificial love; costly love. The result will be proof that Jesus is real.

As Mark Twain has said, it isn’t the things that I don’t understand in the Bible that bothers me, it is the things that I do understand that bother me.” This kind of love isn’t easy. This kind of love is costly. This kind of love is uncomfortable. This kind of love means we have to involved with people. But not just any people—each other. But we can do that when we see how Jesus has really loved us. God loves you with an unfailing love.

England saw a glimpse of such love in 1878. The second daughter of Queen Victoria was Princess Alice. Her young son was infected with a horrible affliction known as black diphtheria. Doctors quarantined the boy and told the mother to stay away. But she couldn’t. One day she overheard him say to the nurse, “Why doesn’t my mother kiss me anymore?” The words melted her heart. She ran to her son and smothered him with kisses. She was buried a few days later. That’s a mother’s love for her child. Jesus says it is the love that brothers and sisters have for each other.

Why do we need this kind of love? Jesus says this right before the revelation that Peter is going to deny him three times. This strong presence will deny. He will need love. Jesus knew what we know is true—we all need love. We all need to know that we are accepted even though we are weak and imperfect.

Jesus loved authentically and so must we. You must see this. The arrangement for the table is very different from our arrangement today. People reclined at table to eat. The seats of honor would have been closest to the host. Jesus hands the bread to Judas. He doesn’t ask the disciples to pass it to Judas at the end. He hands it to Judas. Judas is in one of the seats of honor. That’s love.

Jesus’ promise is that when we love as he loved others will know that our faith is real. Do you love this way? Why not? It’s painful. It’s uncomfortable. It requires too much. If our Savior can go to a cross for us, then we can love another person. After all, it isn’t about us, it is about him.

Follow Jesus

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