John45 – What kind of man is this?

So, when he (Judas Iscariot) came out, Jesus states, “Right now the Son of Man is being glorified, and God is being glorified in him. If God is being glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and will glorify him immediately. Little children, still a little I am with you. You will seek me and just as I said to the Jews that “To where I myself am going you are not able to come,” now I state also to you.” (John 13: 31)

The incident we’re again reading about here took place on the evening which led into the day of crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth around AD 30 in Jerusalem. John, the first century eye-witness biographer of Jesus (who saw him die and knew him well after he rose again), is recalling it all. No sooner had Judas Iscariot left the evening meal that Jesus opens up to his remaining disciples. They are to know that his crucifixion within the next few hours will glorify him as the Son of Man, will immediately glorify God. How will that be? These pupils of Jesus are also to know that, although he values and cares for them as his “little children”, he is to leave them and they are not able to go to where he will have gone. “A new commandment I give to you: in order that you love-in-action one another—just as I have loved-in-action you, in order that you also love-in-action one another. In this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love-in-action in one another.”
He asks them to love-in-action one another. They are to emulate his love-in-action towards them in their actual lives and deeds towards each other, not in their words. He is about to be crucified in their place. In bold above the “you” is always in the plural.	What kind of love is this/ That gave itself for me? / I am the guilty one, / Yet I go free. / What kind of love is this, / A love I’ve never known;/ I didn’t even know His name—/ What kind of love is this? (Bryn & Sally Haworth)
Simon Peter stated to him, “Lord, to where are you going?” Jesus answered, “To where I am going you are not able to follow me right now, in fact you will follow later.” Peter stated to him, “Lord, through what am I not able to follow you now? I will set down my human-life on your behalf.” Jesus answered, “Will you set down your human-life on my behalf? Truly, truly I state to you, the rooster will not call until you have denied me three times!” Simon Peter questions Jesus. He seems to expect Jesus to say that he is going to his death, whereupon he (Simon) will say, “I’ll go there too on your behalf”. Jesus then has to let Simon know that the opposite will take place. Peter will within hours – three times – deny that he knows Jesus. He cannot die for him. “Do not be disturbed in your heart. You are believing into God; believe also into me. In my father’s house are many dwelling places. In fact, if not, I would have said to you. I am departing to establish a place for you.” Jesus now reverts to speaking to all of them. Every “you” in his next sentences is in the plural in the original Greek. All of Jesus’ followers are included, even Simon. Interestingly, they all seem to have one “heart” (singular). It is Jesus who, by his departure, is preparing heaven for them. “And if I have departed and do establish a place for you, I am coming again and will receive you to myself, in order that where I myself am, you may also be.”
Jesus is going to his death in the belief that, having departed to his father above and having thereby prepared a place for them all in heaven above, he will return to them, will receive them to himself and will take them to glory.	What kind of man is this, / That died in agony? / He who had done no wrong/ Was crucified for me. / What kind of man is this, / Who laid aside His throne/ That I may know the love of God—/ What kind of man is this? (Bryn & Sally Haworth)
“And you have discerned the pathway to where I myself am going.” Here he reminds them all that the pathway to where he is going and to where they will be for ever (through him) is his own death by crucifixion.

Sinner Syvret

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