Our scripture reading for this evening, to which I invite you to turn with me at this time, is found in the Gospel according to John, the 13th chapter. In the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, the fourth gospel account, chapter 13. John chapter 13, we continue this series begun last Lord's Day on the spiritual disciplines of the Christian life. This evening we look at the first of those spiritual disciplines which we will consider commonly together. We begin our scripture reading in the 13th chapter, the context of which tells us that Jesus has just rebuked the Jews and the religious leaders for their blindness, their deadness, their hardness of heart, failing to see and understand who He was, and also failing to believe in His holy name. His passion is drawing near. The time of His suffering, His heading for Calvary is drawing very close. His disciples are beginning to become quite fear-filled and grief-stricken. And so the things which Jesus does for them and says to them at this time were not only critically important for them, but also for us as well, especially considering the days in which we are living. John 13, beginning in verse 1, we read to the end of the chapter, But please note, brothers and sisters, that we will be focusing in specifically on verses 34 and 35. Verses 34 and 35 constitute our text for this evening. John 13, beginning in verse 1, hear then the word of the Lord. It was just before the Passover feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and to go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God. So He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? Jesus replied, You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand. No, said Peter, you shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered, Unless I wash you, You have no part with me. Then, Lord, Simon Peter replied, not just my feet, but my hands and my head as well. Jesus answered a person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet. His whole body is clean and you are clean, though not every one of you, for he knew who was going to betray him. And that was why he said not everyone was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. Do you understand what I have done for you? He asked them. You call me teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth. No servant is greater than his master. nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. I am not referring to all of you. I know those I have chosen, but this is to fulfill the scripture. He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me. I am telling you now before it happens so that when it does happen, you will believe that I am he. I tell you the truth. Whoever accepts anyone I send accepts Me, and whoever accepts Me accepts the one who sent Me." After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "'I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray Me.'" His disciples stared at one another at a loss to know which of them He meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to Him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, Ask him which one he means. Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish. And dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. What you are about to do, do quickly, Jesus told him. But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out, and it was night. When he was gone, Jesus said, Now is the Son of Man 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, all men 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? I tell you the truth. Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times. Thus far, the reading of God's holy word. And as always, brothers and sisters, I ask and urge you to keep your Bibles open and handy as we look to God's word together this evening. Dear congregation of Jesus Christ, having had the distinct honor and privilege serving on the Board of Trustees for Mid-America Reform Seminary for several years. I read with great interest the June 2005 edition of the Messenger, the official newsletter of Mid-America Reform Seminary. For example, I praise God for the fact that, as this headline tells us, accreditation at last. The article says, Mid-America is pleased to announce that the seminary is an accredited institution with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, a reason for great rejoicing indeed. I also very eagerly praise God for the account of Mid-America's celebration of the 20th annual commencement exercises, as some nine men were were commissioned to go forth as preachers of the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ and as pastors, shepherds, under-shepherds of His flock. I was especially interested to read a little section on the back of the newsletter entitled, Alumni Update, where I noticed the following, and I quote, On May 22, the Presbytery of the Midwest of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church ordained Paul Berghaus, one of Mid-America's 2005 graduates, as a minister of the gospel and installed him as an evangelist to labor as a chaplain in the United States Army. Berghaus, who had previously served in the U.S. Army, had been recommissioned as a captain and will undergo 12 weeks of chaplaincy training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, before reporting for active duty on September 7 with the 4th Infantry in Fort Hood, Texas. The 4th Infantry anticipates deployment to Iraq this fall." Now, interestingly enough, I don't know how many of you can see this, but there's a picture here of Chaplain Paul Burkhouse with several of the pastors who took part in his commissioning, his ordination ceremony. And I'd like to ask some of the children down in the front row here. I'm assuming that you have never met or seen Paul Burkhouse. Is that correct? You don't know who he is. Well, there's a picture of him here, as I said. with several other pastors, and I want to see if you young boys can pick out which one is Chaplain Paul Burkhouse in this picture, apart from all the other pastors. Who do you think is Chaplain Paul Burkhouse who's going to serve in the U.S. Army? Can you tell which one he is? Who do you think it is? Exactly right. Exactly right. Now, why did why did you pick him? How did you know that was him? He's got an army suit on. It's called the uniform. He's got an army suit on. He's got a uniform on. You could tell who the chaplain was because he is dressed in a military uniform. Easy to identify. Well, brothers and sisters, what is true for being able to detect or identify or recognize Chaplain Paul Berghaus physically is also true spiritually for every true soldier. every true soldier of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In fact, as we turn to the study of the sacred scriptures this evening, specifically the words of our text as recorded for us in John 13, verses 34 and 35, we find ourselves being both confronted and challenged by the fact that just as was true for the disciples of Jesus' day, so too today. If you and I individually and corporately desire for our witness to be such before the eyes of a watching world, that we are easily identified, readily recognizable as a Christian, readily recognizable as a true soldier and disciple of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then the Bible says, by the grace and mercy of the Lord our God, each and every one of us, each and every day, must be actively and aggressively, personally and passionately engaged in this first spiritual discipline of the Christian life. The spiritual discipline, namely, of love. The spiritual discipline of love. Now, as we work our way through our text together, let us consider, first of all, the mandate to love. The mandate to love. Look at v. 34 of our text with me, if you would please, in John 13. Here Jesus says in verse 34, a new, stay with me, the Greek word is kainos, transliterated K-A-I-N-O-S. Kainos. Very important. Kainos does not refer to that which has not existed before. It does not refer to something which is, in a sense, radically different. But it refers to something which is sort of new and improved. It refers to something which has been enlarged or expanded upon. The manner or the target of it has been increased. You may see a classic work of literature, for example, and it'll say the revised edition. Well, the revised edition means it's been reworked, it's been enlarged, it's been improved upon, it's been expanded. And that is the exact meaning of this term kainos in the original language. It doesn't mean that it was unprecedented, but it's largely and vastly improved. A new, a kynos command. A new and kynos precept. A new and kynos injunction. Writes the great biblical commentator, Matthew Henry. Jesus not only commends it, He not only counsels, but He commands it. And makes it one of the fundamental laws of His kingdom. What does Jesus make one of the fundamental laws of His kingdom? What is it that He just doesn't simply command? What is it that He just does not simply counsel to us? What is it that He commands His followers? Look with me. A new command I give you. Love one another. Love one another. You know, it's interesting. I would suppose that any number of people, Christians included, at any particular point in time, would desire to focus on a particular characteristic or a particular talent or a particular ability as being of prime importance. For example, in Greek and Roman culture, as is also true in American culture today, athletic prowess, Young people, isn't it true? Athletic prowess was then, it is today, considered to be of prime importance. Consider the tragic disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalie Holloway in the island of Aruba. One newspaper headline I read recently said, and I'm just quoting the headline now, Blonde white chicks get all the attention. That's what the headline said. Blonde white chicks get all the attention. The article represented the author's reflections on media bias. The media, of course, reports the news, which also makes it the news. And this particular reporter was was bemoaning the fact that seemingly blonde white chicks, as he called them. In the eyes of the world, or at least of our society, are of more value than some others, many others. who have disappeared. Only nobody seems to know. And the media doesn't seem to care. Think about that. Physical beauty, physical attractiveness is so supremely prized in America today. Another example, have you ever noticed how most of those who run for and are elected to public office are very wealthy? Have you ever noticed that? They're all multi-millionaires, they spend 40, 60, a million dollars of their own money to get elected. And then you read and hear about many hundreds of thousands of others who flock to places like Atlantic City or Las Vegas or play the lottery every day. Why? Money. They want money. They want to become rich. Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family fame refers to wealth as one of our society's three gold medals. Wealth. Think of it. Brothers and sisters, we are called to march to a different drummer. We are called to hear and heed different orders from a different commander-in-chief. In 1 Corinthians chapter 13, for example, and if you would just turn there several pages to the right with me, After Acts 1 Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, pens these words in the first few verses. 1 Corinthians 13. Paul says, if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I could be the most eloquent person in the entire world. But have not love. I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. Paraphrase, I am just making noise. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, I'm one of the smartest people who ever lived, Paul says. And if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor, I am the greatest philanthropist this world has ever known. And surrender my body to the flames, I die a martyr's death. But have not love, I gain nothing. V. 13, same chapter. And now, these three remain. Faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. And so you see, brothers and sisters, is it any wonder that our risen, reigning Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the One by Whom the Apostle Paul was saved, and the One to Whom He had consecrated His entire life, also very succinctly and sincerely states, A new command I give you, love one another. A new command I give you, love one another. The first spiritual discipline of the Christian life, the mandate to love. But now let us notice, secondly, in the words of our text, that our Lord Jesus does not simply speak of this mandate to love, but secondly, He also speaks of the manner of love. The manner of love. That is, how are we to personally practice and apply such love? Well, look again at our text in verse 34 with me, if you would please. Jesus says, a new command I give you, love one another. As I have loved you." Brothers and sisters, there's part of the newness of the command. You say, well, there was already a command to love. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. How is this kainos? How is this new? Well, here's part of the reason why it's new. Jesus says, as I have loved you. We're not supposed to simply love now as we love ourselves. We're supposed to love as He loved us. As I have loved you. So you must love one another. And there's another way the command is new. Not simply love your neighbor. Love one another, he says to his followers. Look with me again. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. Now, brothers and sisters, many of us have probably already surmised that the particular term which Jesus is using here is not the Greek word eros, which refers to a very erotic, sensual, sexual kind of love. It's not the word philia, which refers to a very brotherly, sisterly kind of love. We're familiar with the city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a combination of two Greek words, philia, which means a fraternal love, and adelphos, which is brother, the city of brotherly love. But he uses the word, stay with me, agapao, which is the verb form of the noun agape, which we're familiar with. And agape refers to a completely selfless, not selfish, Selfless, unconditional, undeserved, no-strings-attached kind of love. It doesn't say, I love you because, or I will love you if, or I will love you until. It simply says, I love you. I love you. Period. Agape love. As I have loved you, agape. So you must love one another. How has Jesus loved us? We'll flip back a page or two to that first verse of our Scripture reading for this evening in John 13. You see, here we read, it was just before the Passover feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them. Boys and girls, maybe you've engaged in show and tell. Well, Jesus was not only going to tell them, He showed them. The full extent of His love. What did Jesus do to show them the full extent of His love? Drop down to verse 4 with me, please. So, He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. Think about that. Think about that. My brother, my sister, and the Lord Question, question. When was the last time you or I sought to cast aside, sought to crucify, the playing of our own games of one-upsmanship, of jockeying for position in the life of the church according to the ways of the world the way the mother of the sons of Zebedee did for her two sons in Matthew 20-20 and following when she sought to secure the two prime positions at Christ's right hand and His left when He came in the fullness of His kingdom. Do you remember that? You and I do that. When was the last time we crucified? such self-serving interests. When was the last time you or I stopped griping or complaining or gossiping about one another or someone else in the body of Christ? And instead, symbolically speaking, put a towel around our waist and got down on our hands and knees and through words of encouragement Acts of kindness. We wash that person's feet. We wash that person's feet. Husbands, when was the last time you or I cast aside our sinful pride? And symbolically speaking, put a towel around our waist, and got down on our hands and knees, and washed our wife's feet with an encouraging word, with a word of thanks, with a word of commendation, with a word of appreciation, with an act of humble service on her behalf. Have we ever? Have we ever? Wives, when was the last time you cast aside your hurt and pride, and symbolically speaking, put a towel around your waist and got down on your hands and knees, and through words or deeds of kindness and encouragement, you thanked your husband? You blessed your husband. You encouraged your husband. You became a source of pride and inspiration to him. Mothers and fathers, when was the last time you or I cast aside, as it were, our God-ordained authority over the lives of our children? And symbolically speaking, put a towel around our waist and got down on our hands and knees, and through words and deeds of humble, loving, patient, tender service, washed our children's feet. Have we ever? Boys and girls, when was the last time, young people, when was the last time you crucified a sinful defiance sinful defiance of your parents' God-ordained authority over you. And you crucified the looks. You crucified the attitude. You crucified the gestures. You crucified the disobedience. You crucified the delays of obedience. And symbolically speaking, young people, boys and girls, you put a towel around your waist and you got down on your hands and knees. And through words and deeds of kindness and appreciation and thanks and encouragement and helping, you washed your parents' feet. When was the last time, boys and girls, young people, you crucified sibling rivalry just for a time? The sibling is your brother or your sister. And you put a towel around your waist. And you did something. Kind, helpful, real thoughtful, considerate for your brother or your sister in your family, thereby washing their feet. When was the last time we did that? Have you, have I, ever done that? But you know, brothers and sisters, we don't only read that Jesus took on the form of a servant and washed his disciples' feet. But turn over with me please a page or two to John 15 verses 13 and 14. John 15 verses 13 and 14. Here Jesus says, greater love, greater agape has no one than this. that He laid down His life for His friends. You are My friends if you do what I command. And again, what did Jesus command? He commanded that we love each other as He has loved us. And He didn't only serve in the washing of the feet. Jesus Christ, as the Scriptures tell us, literally laid down His life for His friends. He calls us His friends. He went to Calvary's cross and He died a criminal's death. He cried out, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? So that you and I wouldn't have to cry that out for all eternity. He laid down His life for us. The perfect substitutionary atonement. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He died for us. Praise be to God. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. Brothers and sisters, in a world where everybody's looking out for themselves, where the commercials tell us you deserve a break today, and look out for number one, and if you don't watch out for yourself, nobody else will, and all the rest. Christ calls His followers to die to self for the good of another. He calls us to crucify self for the good of another. He tells us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. The Apostle whom Jesus loved was mentioned in our Scripture reading. The Apostle John. puts it this way in 1 John 4, and I would invite you to turn there with me near the end of the Bible for a moment, please, right before the books of Jude and Revelation. 1 John 4. As we try to get a handle on, as we pray for the Spirit to infuse our hearts with that kind of not only service, but dying-to-self kind of love, may God enable and empower us to apply these words. 1 John 4, beginning in verse 7, the Apostle John declares, Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us. He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love. Not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God. But if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. Verse 17, same chapter. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. Now notice, we love because He first loved us. If anyone says, I love God, yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. I'm going to say that again. For anyone who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." In other words, regardless of what our verbal profession may be. He has given us this command. Whoever loves God must also, must also love his brother. Oh, my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, listen once again. Jesus said, a new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. And oh, may God grant us the grace to not simply hear this mandate, but also to heed the manner which Christ Himself has so selflessly and sacrificially set before us. Now thirdly and finally, our Lord Jesus also speaks of the motive, the motive for love. That is, what essentially is to drive us, what is to move us, what is to motivate us to love one another the way Jesus loved us. Look at v. 35 of our text with me, if you would please. Jesus says, by this, by this, He's singling something out. All men, not just some men, all men will No, the Greek word is ginosko. Ginosko, just remember it for a purpose in just a moment. Ginosko, to perceive or to come to understand. By this, all men will know that you are My disciples. A disciple, boys and girls, young people, is someone who is under discipline. You see the word discipline in disciple. A disciple is someone who is a learner, someone who is a student, someone who is an apprentice, someone who is trying to become like their master, like their mentor. And we're disciples of Jesus Christ. We're going to become like Christ. By this will all men know that you are My disciples if you wear religious jewelry that cross around your neck. All men will know that you are My disciples if you put Christian bumper stickers on your car. All men will know that you are My disciples if you wear a suit and not a sports shirt to church on Sunday. All men will know that you are My disciples if you say that you are a Christian. All men will know that you are My disciples if you avoid what our forefathers called the big three of dancing and movies and card playing. All men will know that you are My disciples if you go to church twice on Sunday. Don't misunderstand. All these things are and may very well be very important. But they're not the things that Jesus says. They're not the things that He singles out in this particular passage. What Jesus says is this, by this, all men will know that you are My disciples if you agape. You agape. Selflessly, unconditionally, unreservedly, no strings attached, no questions asked, love one another. If you love one another. Writes Matthew Henry, if the followers of Christ do not love one another, they give just cause to suspect their own sincerity and writes the great Reformer John Calvin, whoever then desires to be truly a disciple of Christ and to be acknowledged by God, let him form and direct his whole life to love the brethren. Let him pursue this object with diligence, with diligence." End of quote. You know, in the book of Acts, and I ask you to turn there with me as we close. In the book of Acts, the third and fourth chapter, We read the rather riveting account of the Apostle Peter's healing of a man who had been crippled from birth. And the religious leaders were furious that Peter had healed him. They were furious that Peter and John were preaching and teaching the people concerning the resurrection of the dead through faith in the name of Jesus. And so they had them arrested and they had them put in prison. And they decided to question them the next day. And friends, down in Acts chapter 4, verses 7 and following, notice what we read. They had Peter and John brought before them, Acts 4, 7, and began to question them. By what power or what name did you do this? And Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers and elders of the people, if we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple, and are asked how he was healed, Then know this, you and all the people of Israel, it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is the stone you builders rejected which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Now, brothers and sisters, notice this. Verse 13, when they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, and were astonished. And they took note. Epigenosko. They realized, they perceived, they came to understand and recognize the fact. They took note that these men had been with Jesus. They took note that these men had been with Jesus. My dear brother, my dear sister in the Lord, question. Before the eyes and ears of a watching world. As you and I are watched and observed more closely than we ever realize by our friends, our family, our neighbors, our co-workers, our classmates, as they behold us. And as they watch and listen and perceive the way, in which we treat one another and relate with one another as husbands and wives, as parents and children, as children to parents, as brothers and sisters in a family, as brothers and sisters in the family of God. Christians, when they look at you, and you, and you, and me, do they epigonosko? Epigonosko. Do they realize? Do they recognize? Do they perceive? Do they come to understand? That we have been with Jesus. That we have been with Jesus. Or not. Or not. You know, I can remember reading many years ago the writings of a pagan antagonist who was writing during Roman times. And this particular author pompously scorned the sacred scriptures. He passionately denounced the deity of Jesus Christ. He persistently ridiculed the resurrection of our Savior. But gloriously enough, he concluded his pagan rantings and ravings by making this confession. concerning Christians. Listen. He said, but behold, how they love one another. But behold, how they love one another. Oh, my dear, dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, may our good and gracious God grant to us Such an added measure of grace. And such an added measure of the person and power of His Holy Spirit that each and every one of us, each and every day, would increasingly so love one another. Like that. Like that. Thereby being enabled and empowered to ever more faithfully and ever more fruitfully and ever more effectively be actively engaged in this first spiritual discipline of the Christian life. Amen. Let's bow our heads and our hearts together in prayer. A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples. If you love one another. Oh, our good and gracious God. Because of this, our Savior's mandate. Because of the manner which he himself modeled. and because of the motive of a world filled to overflowing with sin-sick, hell-heading sinners who need to see Jesus in us. O Lord, anoint us by Thy Spirit and fill us with Thy grace, which would enable and empower us to be ever more faithful and ever more effective, well-disciplined Christian soldiers who simply yet exceedingly excel in loving one another. Hear us, Lord, we pray. In Jesus' name, Amen.