Maundy Thursday

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:31-35 ESV).

It is the night before Jesus is crucified. The twelve apostles are eating with Jesus that most important of all meals. Jesus had just said one of them would betray him (v. 21). John was reclining next to Jesus and asked him who this could be (v. 25). Jesus answered, probably in a low voice so that only John could hear since when Judas left the others had no idea what was going on, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it” (v. 26). Then he dipped the bread and gave it to Judas. And said “What you are going to do, do quickly” (v. 27). And in verse 30 Judas leaves. Then he speaks these incredible words in our reading today. At the very moment when the final betrayal has been set in motion, Jesus says, “Now is the Son of Man glorified.” This little word, Now, is spoken. Now that the final process of being handed over to be killed is in motion, now the Son of Man, Jesus, will shine with the greatest glory. And God will shine gloriously in him. Of all the disciples, only John could at this moment feel the full amazement at this. John had heard Jesus say that Judas was the one who would betray him. At that moment he must have been utterly stunned. Suddenly, in a flash, a whole cluster of Judas' peculiar behaviors take on a whole new meaning. So this is why he gave Mary such a hard time for anointing Jesus with expensive anointment (cf. John 12:3-6). He likely wanted her to give that to Jesus, so he would have access to it. John watches Judas leave, and he can't believe what he is watching. And while John’s mind is churning with the incredible news that Judas is a betrayer, and may be doing his foul work at this very moment, he hears Jesus say, “Now is the Son of Man glorified.” Glory? Then, in what must have been one of the most emotionally charged moments of John’s life, the next word he heard was, “Little children” (teknia, verse 33a). So here’s John with his heart bursting with conflicting emotions: Betrayal has been put in motion. The glory of God is about to be seen. Jesus is leaving them. And, in his absence, love for each other is to bind them together and bind them to him. And in a moment of conflicting and intensified emotion, Jesus reaches for a word of singular affection and calls them all “little children” (verse 33). That is the heart of the gospel. Not sheep, but little children are the focus of God’s love. And, that is the message of encouragement for me today. I pray it will be yours as well. You see, God cares for us as his “little children.” It is a measure of love and care we cannot fully grasp. This is the depth of His mercy! Immerse yourself in that today!