The Upper Room: John 13:18-38 - Pastor Matt Clausen
In this continuation of "The Upper Room" series, we examine Jesus’s final hours with His disciples in John 13:18-38. The message contrasts the glorious, self-sacrificing love of Jesus with the failures of two disciples who struggled to love.
- A New Commandment?: Jesus gives a "new commandment" to love one another (John 13:34 ESV). While the command to love your neighbor was already established in Leviticus 19:18 (ESV), the command is "new" because Jesus provides an entirely new and perfect model for how we are to love one another.
- What is the Love of Jesus?: Christ's love means sacrificially giving Himself for our best. This glorious love is seen most clearly on the cross (John 13:31-32 ESV).
- The Evidence of Belonging: Loving one another sacrificially is the primary evidence to the world that we belong to Jesus and are His true disciples (John 13:35 ESV).
- Two Men Who Don't Love: The passage highlights two followers who failed to embody this love: Judas and Peter.
- Judas: Judas's betrayal was a gradual process (John 13:18 ESV), rooted in ongoing selfishness such as stealing from the disciples' moneybag (John 12:6 ESV). Even though Judas looked good to the Christian community on the outside, his heart was hardened. Yet, Jesus still washed his feet and offered him chances to repent, demonstrating that Jesus loves His enemies.
- Peter: Filled with bravado, Peter claimed he would lay down his life for his Savior, but Jesus knew Peter would soon deny Him. Despite Peter's devastating failure in the moment of truth, Jesus loves and restores His fallen followers, proving His love is based on His own boundless grace.
- (00:00) - Start: The Upper Room
- (02:30) - Scripture Reading (John 13:18-38)
- (05:25) - A New Commandment?
- (11:18) - What is the Glorious Love of Jesus?
- (16:02) - The Evidence We Belong to Jesus
- (19:04) - Two Men Who Don't Love: Judas
- (22:00) - Abandoning Love Didn't Come All at Once
- (24:00) - Judas Looked Good to the Christian Community
- (30:36) - Jesus Loves His Enemy!
- (33:22) - Two Men Who Don't Love: Peter
- (38:54) - Jesus Loves and Restores His Fallen Followers
On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus spent His final hours not thinking of Himself, but of those He loved. He washed weary feet, comforted troubled hearts, promised the Holy Spirit, prepared His followers for suffering, prayed for their faith, and prayed even for us.
In this 12-week journey through John 13–17, we'll see the love of Christ displayed in remarkable ways, and discover how His love continues to shape and sustain His people today.
Pastor Matt Clausen preaches from the Shakopee Campus.
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