Good morning everyone, it's nice to see you today.
And as Alex said, please turn to John's Gospel chapter 13.
!
As is usual, we have tea and coffee afterwards, so there's an opportunity to catch up with each other.
And if there's any questions or anything to feedback, or you just want to talk about what we're looking at in God's Word today,
there's opportunity to do that.
I'm just waiting on a glass of water, or I'm not going to get through the reading.
It's on its way.
So talk amongst yourselves, if you like, while we're waiting.
Thank you.
Thank you, Alex.
So John's Gospel chapter 13.
This section, chapter 13 all the way through to chapter 17, is one day just before Jesus is crucified.
Jesus is spending time with his disciples, preparing them for his own departure to go back to the Father.
And so we get to listen in to all the things that Jesus is teaching the disciples over this last 24 hours.
And we're going to pick it up in verse 31 to verse 38.
When he was gone, that's Judas, Jesus said,
Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him.
If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
My children, I will be with you only a little longer.
You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now, where I am going, you cannot come.
A new command I give you, love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
Simon Peter asked him,
Lord, where are you going?
Jesus replied,
Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.
Peter asked,
Lord, why can't I follow you now?
I will lay down my life for you.
Then Jesus answered,
Will you really lay down your life for me?
Very truly I tell you,
before the cock crows,
you will disown me three times.
Well, let's pray and ask for God's help
as we look at his word.
Our Father God, we pray that by your spirit
and through your word,
you will be our teacher today.
Just as you taught to the disciples,
will you teach us
so that we know more about you
and what it means to follow you
and to trust you.
So help us now, we ask, in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, when my dad was sick with cancer,
he called all the family together
for a special meeting.
There were things he wanted to share with us.
There were the plans for the funeral.
There were things regarding the will.
There was the care of my mum.
It was his way of preparing us
for his death.
He wanted to make sure that everything
was all in order,
the way it should be.
Well, in our text that we've just read together,
Jesus is preparing his disciples
for his own death.
Did you see it there in verse 33?
Full of compassion and love,
Jesus says,
My children,
I will be only with you a little longer.
You will look for me.
And just as I told the Jews,
so I tell you now,
where I am going,
you cannot come.
Well, Peter was terribly curious.
Verse 36.
Simon Peter asked him,
Lord, where are you going?
Jesus replied,
Where I am going,
you cannot follow now,
but you will follow later.
Jesus is talking about his soon-to-be death.
He's teaching the disciples,
and through God's word,
he is teaching us and preparing us
for the cross that is to come,
and what the cross means.
So this morning,
from this short text,
we're going to look at three things.
We're going to look at the cross.
We're going to learn from the cross.
And we're going to listen to the cross.
So look, learn, and listen.
First, by looking at the cross,
we see Jesus' glory.
By looking at the cross,
we see Jesus' glory.
Look back at verse 31.
When he was gone,
that's Judas,
Jesus said,
Now the Son of Man is glorified,
and God is glorified in him.
If God is glorified in him,
God will glorify the Son in himself,
and will glorify him at once.
But I don't think you could get any more glories
into such a short space.
What does it all mean when it talks about glory?
Well, glory works at two different levels.
We can think of it this way.
First, that someone can display glory.
They show their greatness and their beauty.
But on the other hand,
someone can give glory.
So we praise them,
and we honour them.
So we think of Manchester United.
Not that I'm a fan of Manchester United,
but you all know the song.
Glory, glory, Man United.
What are they saying?
At one level,
they're talking about the players on the pitch,
and the glory that they display
through their skills and scoring goals.
But then on the other hand,
there's the crowd that are watching,
that give all the glory to the players.
They praise and honour them.
So glory is both revealed,
we see someone's glory,
and it's received,
we give someone glory.
And that's essentially what's happening here.
First,
Jesus reveals his glory.
When Jesus did his first miracle,
do you remember back in chapter 2,
at the wedding feast,
they had run out of wine,
and Jesus turned the water into wine?
Well,
this is the comment that we get
after that miracle.
What Jesus did here,
in Cana of Galilee,
was the first of his signs,
through which he revealed his glory,
and his disciples believed in him.
Jesus' miracles,
all the things he did,
healing the lame,
feeding the crowds,
raising Lazarus from the dead,
all of that revealed to everyone
his power and authority.
He was displaying his glory.
But now look carefully
at what Jesus says about himself.
Look again at verse 31.
When he was gone,
Jesus said,
now the Son of Man is glorified.
Well, what's the Son of Man?
Well, turn with me back to Daniel chapter 7.
Daniel chapter 7.
And if somebody's got a page number,
I always forget to write them down.
So if somebody's got a page number
for Daniel 7,
that'll be good.
892.
Yeah, 892.
Page 892.
So the Son of Man
is a figure,
a person,
in the Old Testament,
who has been given
divine power,
power from God.
And this is what we read
about the Son of Man.
Daniel chapter 7,
verse 13.
Daniel has a vision,
and here's what he sees.
Daniel chapter 7,
verse 13.
In my vision at night,
I looked,
and there before me
was one like a
Son of Man,
coming with the clouds of heaven.
He approached the Ancient of Days,
that is God,
and was led
into God's presence.
And he
was given
authority,
glory,
and sovereign power,
and all nations
and peoples
of every language
worshipped him.
His dominion
is everlasting,
and his dominion
will not pass away.
And his kingdom
is one that will
never
be destroyed.
Let's go back
to John chapter 13.
What a picture
of someone
with great
power
and authority.
All the nations
will worship him,
and his kingdom
will never
end.
This
is the
Son of Man.
And here in
John's Gospel,
as Jesus is talking
about himself,
he claims
to be the
Son of Man.
Now the
Son of Man
is glorified.
In other words,
he's saying,
get ready,
because we are now
going to see
Jesus
in all
his glory.
We're going
to see
his beauty
and his majesty
and all
his splendour.
You think
turning water
into wine
was amazing.
You think
raising Lazarus
from the dead
was amazing.
Well,
you haven't
seen
this.
And what
does Jesus
do next?
What's the
next thing
Jesus does
after all
his miracles?
What's the
big thing
he does?
He dies.
The
Son of Man
with sovereign
power
and supreme
authority
is mocked
and beaten
and crucified.
the
one who
rules
and owns
all things
and whose
kingdom
will never
end
hangs
on a
cross.
He
suffers
in shame.
He
dies
in weakness.
You see,
the surprising
thing is
Jesus
displays
his glory
in all
its fullness
at the
cross.
and by
looking at
the cross
we see
Jesus
in all
his glory.
Well,
you say,
where's the
glory in
that?
Where's the
glory in
somebody who's
been beaten
and mocked
with nails
driven through
his hands
and a crown
of thorns
on his head?
Where's the
glory?
Well,
it's through
the death
of Jesus
that my
guilt
and my
sin
is punished.
It's through
the suffering
of Jesus
that all
my shame
has been
wiped away.
It's at
the cross
forgiveness
is given
and new
life is
received.
It's at
the cross
where I
am washed
clean
and made
new
and I
am given
a fresh
start
and a new
beginning
and my
past
has been
redeemed
and my
future
is secured
life
with God
now
and forever
more
that's
the glory
of
the cross.
So Jesus
reveals
his glory
and then
of course
Jesus
receives
all the
glory.
Do you
see that
in verse
32?
if God
is glorified
in him
God
will glorify
the son
in himself
and will
glorify him
at once.
As Jesus
dies
God
glorifies
the son.
He lifts
him up
and says
give him
all the
praise
and all
the honour.
It's like
an artist's
painting
that's hung
in the gallery.
the picture
on the
one hand
displays
the glory
of the
artist,
the skill
of being
able to
move that
paintbrush
and create
the picture
and as
people walk
through the
gallery
they stop
in awe.
Wow!
wow!
They glorify
the artist.
It's like
an actor
performing
on stage
in a
theatre
where the
spotlight
beams
down on
the actor
so we
can see
his skill
and the
way in
which he
moves
and speaks
and at
the end
of it
all
when they
stand
on stage
the light
shines
again
on the
actor
so that
the crowd
will
applause
and give
all the
glory
to what
they have
done
and that
is what
we are
to do
with the
cross
as we
see all
that Jesus
does
we give
him
the glory
we give
him
the applause
we give
him
the praise
you see
the cross
changes
how we
see
Jesus
he's not
just some
miracle
worker
that we
turn to
in a
crisis
he's not
some
spiritual
guru
that we
read
just to
get some
advice
he's not
someone we
turn to
when the
exams aren't
going so
well and
go oh
please help
me and
then forget
about him
no Jesus
isn't some
interesting
person to
analyse and
argue about
he is the
son of man
with sovereign
power and
supreme authority
who died
for you
and for
me
Jesus
reveals his
glory
so that
he might
receive
all the
glory
so first
by looking
at the
cross
we see
Jesus'
glory
that's the
first thing
so we
look at
the cross
and second
we're going
to learn
from the
cross
by learning
from the
cross
we get
to love
each other
deeply
do you see
that in
verse 34
this is what
we learn
a new
command I
give you
love
one
another
as I
have loved
you
so you
must love
one another
when we
see the
cross
we see
the glorious
love
of Jesus
in other
words
if you
want to
know what
love
looks like
don't turn
on your
TV
and go
and watch
some rom
com or
something like
that
don't look
up a book
or read
some romantic
novel
if you
want to
know what
love
looks like
learn
from the
cross
there's
two
things
for us
to learn
first
we are
given a
new
command
he says
a new
command I
give you
love
one
another
in the
old
testament
you remember
God had
given the
command
love
your
neighbour
as
yourself
now
Jesus
says
love
one
another
so
it's
not so
much
a new
command
that
they've
never
heard
before
they know
and we
know
that we
ought to
love
each
other
but it's
new
in the
sense
that they
are going
to be
the new
community
of love
that when
Jesus
goes to
the cross
and goes
back to
the father
the disciples
will be
together
as a
community
of love
they are
verse 34
to love
one another
at the end
of verse 34
love
one another
end of
verse 35
love
one another
in other
words
love
will be
the
distinctive
mark
of the
church
as people
walk in
as we
walk in
on a
Sunday
morning
we should
be
immersed
in love
our
actions
will be
loving
our
words
will be
loving
our
thoughts
will be
loving
the new
command
for God's
people
love
one
another
so what
does this
love
actually
look
like
well
we are
given
a new
standard
of loving
one another
a new
standard
if we want
to know
what love
looks like
learn from
the cross
verse 34
look at it
again
a new
command
I give
you
love
one
another
as I
have
loved
you
so you
must
love
one
another
so
how did
Jesus
love
us
how does
he
demonstrate
his
love
well
think
about
what
happens
either
side
of this
command
in its
context
it's
about
betrayal
and
denial
so
before
Jesus
gives
the
command
look
back
at
verse
21
second
part
of
verse
21
Jesus
says
to
his
disciples
very
truly
I
tell
you
one
of
you
is
going
to
betray
me
right
that's
before
the
command
now
look
at
what
happens
after
the
command
look
at
the
end
of
verse
38
very
truly
I
tell
you
before
the
crock
crows
you
will
disown
me
three
times
where's
the love
in that
betrayal
and
denial
and
then
in
the
middle
of
it
all
Jesus
says
love
as I
loved
you
see
Judas
would
turn
against
Jesus
Peter
would
turn
away
from
Jesus
but
knowing
this
would
happen
Jesus
loved
them
to
the
very
end
and
he
went
to
the
cross
for
people
like
Judas
and
Peter
Jesus
in
love
would
lay
down
his
life
for
the
betrayers
and
the
deniers
that's
the
standard
it's
nothing
less
than
servant
hearted
self
sacrificing
other
centered
love
it's
a love
that is
demonstrated
and seen
at the
cross
by
learning
from
the
cross
we
get
to
see
how
we
love
each
other
deeply
you
see
when
we
love
others
deeply
it
will
have
a
wider
effect
look
at
verse
35
verse
35
by
this
everyone
will
know
that
you
are
my
disciples
if
you
love
one
another
you
see
as we
love
as
Christ
love
it's
going
to
cause
a
stir
it'll
be
like
a
firework
at
night
exploding
it
gets
everybody's
attention
and they
see
and it
will be
talked
about
people
in
carrigline
will say
they're
loving
people
and I
want to
encourage us
to keep
loving
one another
as we
do
because it
has an
effect
it helps
people see
that
Jesus
loves
us
so we
are to
love
one another
but what
is this
going to
look like
in
practice
well here's
two things
for us
to consider
two things
first
live
with the
reality
not
the
ideal
you see
mostly
I
think
this is
true
of me
you tell
me
what
you
think
but I
think
this is
true
of
everyone
we
look
for
the
ideal
in
everyone
in
other
words
I
will
love
those
who
won't
betray
me
or
deny
me
I
will
love
those
who
don't
annoy
me
or
disappoint
me
the
problem
is
that
none
of us
ever
meets
the
ideal
because
we
all
fail
and
fall
that's
why
Jesus
is
saying
love
one
another
you
see
if we
waited
for the
perfect
person
to
love
we're
never
going
to
love
anybody
because
the
perfect
person
doesn't
exist
love
the
person
who
frustrates
you
and
does
things
differently
to
you
love
the
reality
of
one
another
love
messy
broken
sinful
people
like
me
and
like
us
all
so
live
with
the
reality
not
the
ideal
and
second
look
to
the
cross
not
yourself
because
we've
all
got
standards
that we
establish
and that
we
control
that we
can
control
ways in
which
we're
willing
to go
and love
but no
further
love
is
conditional
on our
part
I will
love
you
if
you
apologise
to me
I will
love
you
if
you
promise
never
ever
to
do
it
again
I
will
love
you
if
you
do
this
for
me
I
will
love
you
if
you
fill
in
the
blank
but
the
problem
is
our
standards
are
just
far
too
low
the
standard
by
which
we
are
to
love
is
the
cross
a
love
that
is
intentional
and
unconditional
a
love
that
will
love
deniers
and
betrayers
so
second
we
not
only
look
to
the
cross
but
we
learn
from
the
cross
and
as
we
learn
from
the
cross
we
learn
how
to
love
one
another
deeply
that's
all
good
right
happy
so
far
love
others
as
Jesus
loved
us
and
give
Jesus
all
the
glory
easy
simple
but
the
problem
is
we
don't
do
we
I
know
I
don't
I
know
I'm
good
at
loving
myself
I
love
myself
huge
and
I'm
good
at
giving
glory
but
glory
and
seeking
glory
for
myself
so
what's
going
to be
the
response
and the
answer
to that
what
do
we
do
well
we
look
we
learn
and
we
listen
by
listening
to
the
cross
we
get
to
know
ourselves
clearly
or
we
understand
ourselves
fully
look at
verse 37
Peter
asked
Lord
why
can't
I
follow
you
now
I'll
lay
down
my
life
for
you
this
is
this
is
classic
Peter
he's
all
in
he's
so
enthusiastic
oh
Jesus
oh
yeah
the
love
thing
got
that
sorted
by
the
way
I'm
going
to
lay
down
my
life
for
you
whatever
you
ask
I'll
do
it
but
the
problem
is
Peter
has
a
distorted
view
of
himself
he
can't
see
what
he's
really
like
look
how
Jesus
responds
to
Peter's
claim
of
great
extravagant
love
of
laying
down
his
life
look
what
Jesus
says
will
you
really
lay
down
your
life
for
me
very
truly
I
tell
you
before
the
cock
crows
you
will
disown
me
three
times
wow
bang
at the
cross
we begin
to see
ourselves
clearly
two things
the cross
speaks to
us about
that I
want us
to get
as we
finish
first
the cross
speaks about
the horror
of my
sin
it speaks
about the
horror
of my
sin
you see
it's not
Peter who
lays down
his life
for anyone
and it's
not me
who lays
down my
life
for anyone
it's
Jesus
who lays
down his
life
for us
as
Jesus
is mocked
and beaten
as
Jesus
suffers
and dies
I
begin
to see
my
true
self
as I
look at
the cross
it's like
a mirror
reflecting
back on
me
the fact
that
Jesus
had to
go to
the cross
and die
shows
me
that I
am
more
sinful
than I
ever
thought
I'm
not just
weak
and get
it
slightly
wrong
I'm
deeply
broken
you see
at the
cross
my
true
self
is revealed
I don't
glorify
Jesus
as I
should
I don't
love
others
as I
should
like
Peter
I
deny
Jesus
and the
cross
reminds me
of what
I deserve
I
should
be
where
Jesus
is
I
should
suffer
as
Jesus
suffers
I
should
die
as
Jesus
dies
can
you
look
at the
cross
and see
him
die
and say
that should
be
me
so as
I
listen
to the
message
of the
cross
I
see
the
horror
of
my
own
sin
and
what
I
deserve
but
thankfully
the
cross
also
speaks
about
the
beauty
of
God's
love
it
speaks
about
the
beauty
of
God's
love
as
Jesus
dies
he
dies
for
me
he
lays
down
his
life
for
me
knowing
my
sin
knowing
that I
would
betray
him
knowing
that I
would
reject
him
he
dies
for
me
the
fact
that
Jesus
would
go
to
the
cross
shows
me
that I
am
more
loved
than I
ever
dreamed
possible
you
see
looking
at the
cross
we
see
God's
heart
revealed
for
you
and
for
me
where
Jesus
stands
where
I
deserve
to
stand
he
dies
as
I
deserve
to
die
here
at
the
cross
we
fall
and
experience
the
grace
of
God
who
forgives
me
of
all
of
my
sin
where
all
of
my
shame
that
I
carry
over
the
years
is
washed
away
and
all
the
guilt
that
weighs
me
down
is
removed
forever
and
more
than
that
through
his
love
I
am
changed
on
the
inside
and
I'm
humbled
and
I'm
driven
to
love
people
as
Jesus
loved
me
and
to
him
I
give
all
the
glory
listen
to
the
cross
the
cross
speaks
to
us
and
confronts
us
with
something
that
we
are
never
ever
to
forget
the
horror
of
our
sin
and
wow
the
beauty
of
God's
love
here
at
the
cross
I
am
reminded
of
what
I
deserve
and
it
reminds
me
of
what
Jesus
has
done
you
see
when we
listen
to the
message of
the cross
we are
humbled
and
broken
and yet
changed
and
transformed
we
come to
the
cross
and
together
we
stop
and
we
reflect
look
learn
and
listen
he
loved
us
so
much
that
we
love
others
and
give
Jesus
all
the
glory
let's
pray
Lord
God
we
confess
that
so
often
we
spend
our
times
looking
at
well
let's
just
say
rubbish
on
our
TV
we
listen
to
so
much
nonsense
we
learn
silly
things
from
our
phones
help
us
to
put
the
cross
at the
centre
that
we
would
look
to
Jesus
this
week
that
we
would
learn
from
Jesus
this
week
and
that
we
would
listen
to
Jesus
this
week
thank
you
for
the
cross
thank
you
for
dying
for
us
for
giving
us
life
and
for
changing
us
and
to
you
we
give
all
the
glory
and
the
praise
amen
Thank you.