Marks of the Mission

JOHN 13:31-35

What does a Christian look like?•Can you tell by their clothes?•Their jewelry?•Bumper stickers on their cars?•Tattoos?•How ‘bout the music they like?•Yes?•No?

“God is glorified in Him…”•Anybody can buy that stuff…•Madonna was asked about her crucifix one time…•True marks of a Christian are not about what we wear, but what we DO•What are the true marks of Christianity?

31 Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus *said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; 32 if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. 33 Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give

to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:31-35, NASB

Jesus shows us by His example…•The markings of a Believer?•Easy to have them?•Easy to get them?•Answer to both is NO•Are “these” the markings?

Jesus shows us by His example…•The markings of a Believer?•Easy to have them?•Easy to get them?•Answer to both is NO•Are “these” the markings?•NO!

Jesus shows us by His example…•Jesus shows us in Vv 31-32 that His actions would Glorify the Father– thru His death•The instant Judas was gone, the atmosphere was cleared, and Jesus began to instructHis disciples and prepare them for His crucifixion and His ultimate return to heaven

Glorifying The Father thru death•A note– Judas is gone, demonic oppression cleared• Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper•Contrast– Judas out in the dark and the Light sharing with disciples•From V 31 to Ch 16, instructions, promises, warnings, commandments, private instruction becomes final orders for disciples of all ages

Glorifying The Father thru death•To become a committed disciple, follow those chapters/verses!•Back to the point-Marks•Again, not what we say or wear, but what we DO•The rest of the verses in this passage nail it down•They also lay out our church vision

•1st understand that Jesus’ death was not a mournful tragedy, but a magnificent triumph!•One who doesn’t understand God’s vantage point might ask, “How does this glorify God?”•Three ways--

Glorifying The Father thru death

•1.) Providing the way to reconcile between God and mankind who was disobedient; and making the way of salvation through Jesus Himself available to all mankind•2.) Taking all the sins away from any who believe in Jesus Christ as one’s Savior and Lord so that he or she will not have to face the divine judgment and be thrown into eternal hell

Glorifying The Father thru death

•3.) Overcoming evil and death. Satan had and still has a bondage on mankind from the moment of the disobedience by our first parents Adam and Eve. Through Jesus’crucifixion, He was able to pay for the penalty of our sins•Back to the “Marks”

Glorifying The Father thru death

•So here’s the question– How can we glorify God with our lives?•We’ve already established that choice of clothes, music, or jewelry doesn’t• Is it by telling people about Jesus?•How about by doing a bunch of ritual stuff like some denominations?•NOT!

Glorifying God with OUR lives

•Romans 12:1-2 says this“Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Glorifying God with OUR lives

• If we transform our lives by renewing our minds and doing these things the Bible says..•Our lives become the very tool to glorify our Lord•The very purpose for my existence is then to glorify God•Some would say that sounds like brainwashing!• It is– Jesus washes our brains to make them vessels for His use!!!

Glorifying God with OUR lives

•V 33 is Jesus letting the disciples know it’s not yet their time, but that it IS coming•They were probably distressed and even heartbroken•How would they go on?•VV 34-35 are the key

A side note…

•VV 34-35, a new commandment- huge but quotes Leviticus 19:18

Loving Like He Loved Us

“You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

Leviticus 19:18

•VV 34-35, a new commandment- huge but quotes Leviticus 19:18•Notice the word ‘new’ Jesus used. In Greek it is “kainos”•Fresh, unheard•What’s the diff?•“As I have loved You…”

Loving Like He Loved Us

• It is impossible to love one another as Christ loved us without Him• Jesus set a whole new standard of love and gave His disciples and us this new commandmentto follow and honor• Jesus is not speaking here of love to all people, but of love within the community of believers•That is HUGE. AGAPE is for…

Loving Like He Loved Us

•Other Believers AND your Neighbors!Loving Like He Loved Us

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:36-40

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:36-40

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:36-40

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:36-40

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:36-40

•Other Believers AND your Neighbors!•Agape your brothers, sisters, and pleisons—•People with whom you have a relationship•This is why I want to eventually change Sunday night services to Neighborhood Groups•So, What are the Marks?

Loving Like He Loved Us

•1. Love God with everything you have•2. Love your neighbor like yourself• Its that easy– you’ll look like a Christian• Jesus “Marks” were scars and holes in His hands and His side•Ours may look similar in the end…

Loving Like He Loved Us

•1. Love God with everything you have•2. Love your neighbor like yourself•Notice the difference between uniforms of a basic training grad and one returning from years on the battlefield?•Battle scars are the mark of a soldier who fought well

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