Love One Another- John 13:1-35<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Has someone ever done something so mean and so hurtful that it absolutely crushed you?  Maybe it affected you personally or even caused you great public distress but the most traumatic thing about it was that it was committed by someone very close to you.  However the action impacted your life, we are instructed by the words and life of Christ to respond in a rather unconventional way.
The most recognizable story of treachery in the New Testament is that of Judas Iscariot being paid thirty pieces of silver for providing the undisclosed location of Jesus to the Jewish authority.  At no time in history has such an act of deceit been more miscalculated.  Not only would it lead to the death of Christ but to the traitor himself, and history would be forever changed.  What is most interesting about this story is what happened before Judas led the mob to arrest the Messiah.
Our story picks up in the upper room where Jesus is having His last meal with his disciples.  The Son of God then moves from the dinner table to wash the disciple's feet, including Judas'.  In this act Jesus symbolically demonstrates that even after we have given our life to Him we still need to renew our minds daily with the Word of God, seek forgiveness for sinful actions and finally to serve one another.   Within this discourse, Jesus eludes to the presence of a betrayer by saying that they are all "not clean."  Murmuring begins.
Now as the disciples are sitting once again, the discussion turns toward a betrayer.  The disciples cannot believe what they are hearing.  They are in utter dismay.  Those closest to Christ now want to know who it is.  In the scriptures, it appears that only John receives the answer as Jesus immediately hands Judas the bread and sends him on his way.  Jesus then states that the "Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him" through this betrayal and ultimately His own death.  Apparently, even still, no one realizes that the traitor is Judas.
The conversation now turns towards a new commandment.  What is interesting about this part of the conversation is the fact that it is intrinsically connected to the betrayal.  Notice that Jesus doesn't give the commandment until Judas had left.  It is only after his departure was set in motion that the new commandment could be given and later understood.  What is the new commandment?  Jesus says; "as I have loved you, that you also love one another." 
Why would Jesus give such a commandment?  Jesus answers by saying, "all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."  Think about this.  Everyone knew who the twelve disciples were.  They even knew that Judas was one of them.  This means people would be watching how the disciples handled the situation and others like it in the future.  We too should remember that people are always watching to see how we respond in the difficulties of life.
To love someone who has brought you great hurt or distress is challenging.  But time after time we see Jesus instruct us in the manner of following Him which is always modeled by His life.  Not once did Jesus ask His disciples to do what He was unwilling to do Himself.  Jesus taught that "a servant is truly not greater than his master" which is a reminder that we are to strive to be like our Master (Luke 6:40).  Being like Christ involves forgiving and loving like He did, even when we find it difficult to do so.  Remember, it is for His glory and God glorified in you.
Jon Langford