Elpis and Shalom

Any task that is done well will ultimately come to a completion at some point. At least that’s what I tell myself every time I look into my garage, which needs to be cleaned and organized. However, it requires a lot of work, and there is always the temptation just to go in and throw everything away; that will be the only time it is organized and decluttered. I’m not entirely sure how my garage became such a mess of clutter, but I’m sure it happened over time. When one part of the house was up for cleaning and decluttering, it ultimately ended up in the garage. Although it was never meant to be a permanent home, as long as it didn’t block the path to the exercise equipment, it got to stay. Our lives become nothing but a giant ball of clutter when we allow sin to penetrate various areas of our lives. We set aside living as Christ for a moment out of convenience or forgetfulness, and it spirals out of control, creating a mess in our lives. Even Christians with the best intentions ultimately allow sin to create a problem that seems insurmountable. The Gospel addresses this problem. Even though we fail to clean the garages of our lives, it was for this reason that God sent Jesus. Fully human to connect with our nature, yet fully God to overcome the power of sin and death. This combined nature provides the ability to overcome the clutter and strike at the very heart of our problem, sin.

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 19:28–30.

In His final moments on the cross, Jesus profoundly demonstrated the depths of His humanity, highlighted vividly by His cry, “I thirst.” This agonizing utterance served as irrefutable evidence of His perfect humanity, a man truly made like all of humanity, experienced the breaking down of His physical body in addition to the destruction that sin brings upon the body. Unlike a pure deity, Christ endured the severe dehydrating effects characteristic of crucifixion, thereby manifesting genuine human weariness and need. This seemingly simple cry was also a deliberate act, ensuring the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, underscoring that His suffering, even His physical thirst, was not accidental but part of God’s predetermined plan for atonement. Thus, His extreme thirst became a consequence of humanity’s sin, taken upon Himself, revealing the extent of God’s holiness and the profound need for the redemption that only His sacrifice could provide, showing humanity’s utter lostness without Him.

However, even with Christ’s display of human frailty, Jesus’ divine nature shines through, powerfully declaring the triumph of salvation. Unlike ordinary men whose spirits depart involuntarily in death, Jesus consciously bowed His head before giving up His spirit, a deliberate act of sovereign will. His loud voice, proclaiming “It is finished,” further emphasized His divine authority; His life was not forcibly taken, but freely laid down, showcasing His control even in ultimate human weakness. This declaration, from the single Greek word “teleo,” signifies that all divine requirements and prophecies were perfectly fulfilled, the work of redemption completed, God’s justice satisfied, and sin’s wages paid. It was not a cry of exhaustion but a triumphant statement made with full knowledge and intent, a culmination of His perfect obedience unto death and the accomplishment of the Father’s will.

Therefore, the profound sacrifice of Christ calls believers to a deep understanding and participation in the Gospel. While His unique suffering bore the wrath of God and atoned for sin, believers are invited to join Him by taking up their cross daily, loving sacrificially, and serving the Gospel. Our primary way of sharing in His sacrifice is not by adding to it, but by constantly trusting in its completeness and sufficiency, as powerfully affirmed by “It is finished.” This declaration opened an eternal fountain of grace and laid a foundation of peace. Therefore, believers are called to exhibit the peace and confidence that flow from such trust in Christ’s efficacy on the cross, living out the accomplished work of redemption. This enduring faith, coupled with the willingness to endure trials with Christ, aligns believers with His path, showcasing His power and grace amidst human weakness, and contributing to the broader witness in a fallen world.

Jesus changed the world just as He changed us, taking all of the sins of the world out of the clutter of our lives and dealing with them once and for all, proclaiming that it is finished. While we cannot take on the role of Jesus in this task, we are invited to share the peace that comes as a result of our salvation with everyone in the world. Many others must deal with the mess left by sin in their lives. Jesus invites the Church to work alongside the sacrifice and take on the burdens of the world, because we are equipped to hand them off to the Almighty God, thus speaking directly to sin that the power is broken and proclaiming the power of the risen Christ in all these situations. While I wish that the clutter in my home, and specifically the garage, could have been handled by the Almighty, I certainly feel as if I am suffering when I even contemplate the mess before me. I can rest assured that the clutter of my garage will not bleed into my walk with God, because Jesus paid the cost for my redemption, and invites us to open up the clutter of our hearts so that our sin will be dealt with.

One of the most unsettling feelings is walking into a room and questioning your reason for being there. It might be simple forgetfulness, or it could be a more profound sense that you don’t belong. Oftentimes, when people get in front of a group of people to speak, they feel as if they don’t belong. This unease is why public speaking remains one of our most common fears. As Jesus came into the world, even He had to navigate this tension of belonging, especially when He encountered the influential people of His day. While He was filled with purpose, there were many forces actively trying to destroy Him. In the face of these trials and conflicts, Jesus relied on His divine purpose as His guide. Similarly, God has placed Christians in the world, much as He placed His people in a new world after freeing them from Egypt. This begs the question: What is our purpose? Jesus confronted this directly in His trial before Pilate. Instead of getting entangled in a power struggle or debating accusations, He clearly articulated His purpose: to testify to the truth. Like Him, our purpose is not to win worldly arguments, but to reveal God’s truth to the world.

33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 18:33–38a.

The idea of purpose guides all of those involved in this trial, the religious elites, Pilate, and the government, as well as Jesus. The purpose of the religious elite was to eliminate Jesus, whom they saw as a direct threat to their power and influence. Having already decided that Jesus must be killed, the Jewish leaders brought Him to the Praetorium, the center of the local Roman government, to have Him condemned and executed by Roman authority. This was a calculated move to shift responsibility for His death onto the Romans. They manipulated the system, acting early in the morning to avoid widespread opposition. Once they realized that a religious charge of blasphemy didn’t matter to Pilate, they were forced to refashion their case in political terms. They accused Jesus of being a revolutionary inciting rebellion against Rome by claiming to be the king of the Jews, a charge designed to force Pilate’s hand, framing Jesus as a political rival of Caesar, which had to be taken seriously. Their primary fear was that Jesus’ truth would expose their worldly ambitions and pull people away from them, so they rejected Jesus for political security.

Pilate’s purpose, in contrast, was to maintain the Pax Romana. As the Roman procurator, his duty was to keep order among a restless people, and he was ultimately responsible to the emperor. He understood that the religious leaders had a personal issue with Jesus, but knew that to keep peace among the rival groups, he must hear out their charges. They focused their central charge on the kingship of Jesus, as a potential threat to Rome, because heresy and other religious charges fell outside Pilate’s sphere of power. After all, Pilate sought to release Jesus when Jesus clarified His kingdom was “not of this world.” However, the Jewish leaders forced his involvement by stating they could not lawfully execute anyone, compelling a Roman sentence. They exploited Pilate’s political vulnerability, as his standing with Caesar was precarious, and any threat to peace would ultimately lead to Pilate being replaced. They pushed Pilate further through their threats that if he let Jesus go, he would be in opposition to Caesar. Fearing he would lose his position, Pilate, driven by his own desire for power and security, succumbed to the pressure of the Jewish religious leaders.

Caught between these competing worldly purposes, Jesus remained steadfast in His own. He came to bear witness to the truth and had no time to waste appeasing either the religious elite or the Roman governor. When Pilate asked, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus immediately clarified the spiritual nature of His authority, stating, “My kingdom is not of this world.” He explained that if His kingdom were earthly, His followers would have fought for His release. Instead of getting entangled in the accusations of envious leaders or the political anxieties of a troubled governor, Jesus explicitly declared His mission: Jesus came to speak truth, to share truth, and to ensure the truth is heard in the ears of all people. His purpose was not to engage in power struggles, but to reveal a spiritual kingdom to all who were willing to hear His voice. Those who heard and acted upon the words of Jesus were those who shared and promulgated the Gospel throughout the entire world.

Facing a trial that would end in crucifixion, Jesus remained focused on His purpose: to speak the truth and witness to its divine power in the face of threatening worldly forces. Similarly, Jesus calls us to remain faithful to our witness and adhere to the truth of the Gospel, no matter the opposition. We will face temptations from both religious and secular powers that are more concerned with maintaining their status than advancing the Gospel. Jesus’ actions remind us not to waste our energy in earthly power struggles. Our purpose, right where we are, is to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed, bearing witness to a power that comes only from the Almighty. Therefore, our role is not to appear perfect, follow hollow traditions, or cozy up to powerful elites. Instead, we do what Jesus did: walk in a manner that glorifies God and enjoy the blessings of that relationship. Our lives must demonstrate an ultimate allegiance not to any earthly institution, but only to the mission of God. Jesus came to bear witness to the truth, and He calls us to be co-laborers in that same work.

Fairs and festivals have long served as vital community gatherings, bringing people together for shared experiences. For example, the upcoming Antelope Valley Fair in Lancaster, with its concerts, agricultural celebrations, art displays, traditional food, rides, and games, aims to provide a space for celebrating local culture and history. Many of us have fond memories of such events. I recall how much I enjoyed taking my young children to see the animals and explore the various exhibits at our local fair. As they grew older, their interests naturally shifted towards the excitement of food, rides, and games, illustrating how our engagement with these events can evolve. This evolution is not unique to personal experiences; fairs and festivals themselves often change over time. Across the country, many have ceased operations, scaled back, or altered their themes and timing. Such change, while sometimes challenging, is a common thread in the history of communal celebrations. This pattern of transformation can even be observed in deeply rooted traditions. For instance, the ancient harvest festival, celebrated fifty days after Passover, gradually shifted its focus towards commemorating the giving of the Law. It was for this evolved celebration, Pentecost, that Jews from across the world gathered in Jerusalem roughly two thousand years ago. While the giving of the Law to Moses originally highlighted the people’s struggles to adhere to God’s purpose, the message on that particular Pentecost underwent a profound transformation. When the disciples spoke, inspired by a prophecy from Joel, the focus shifted from past failures to a powerful message of hope and divine empowerment.

28  “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29  Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. 30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Joel 2:28–32.

The book of Joel foretells a profound and transformative gift: the ultimate outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all people, granting universal access to God’s power. This core promise of Pentecost marks a new era of extraordinary spiritual blessings, sharply contrasting with the more limited and selective bestowal of the Spirit seen in the Old Testament, where, for instance, David prayed that the Lord would not remove the Holy Spirit from him, signifying its perceived exclusivity. Joel’s prophecy declares that the Spirit will be “poured out upon all flesh.” While Joel’s immediate audience might have understood this to encompass all of Israel, the Pentecost interpretation, powerfully articulated by Peter and later reinforced by Paul, expands this to include both Jews and Gentiles. In this context, “all flesh” signifies all within the community of God’s people, without distinction of age, gender, or social status: “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.” This highlights a radical expansion of direct access to God’s Spirit and His divine communication. Joel further explains that this outpouring of the Spirit manifests through prophecy, dreams, and visions—different modes of God’s revelation that symbolize a full manifestation of Himself to all, not merely through miraculous gifts, but through His indwelling Spirit.

The universal need for God’s Spirit becomes particularly critical because the world desperately requires divine intervention. While humanity often seeks solutions from earthly powers, God calls us to rely on power from above. Joel illustrates this divine intervention with striking signs: “wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon to blood.” Though these vivid images allude to physical cosmic events, they are also interpreted symbolically as representing political revolutions, shifts in ruling powers, and broader cosmic convulsions that precede significant divine judgment. Despite the enduring ills of our world—wars, disease, poverty, and a pervasive lack of concern for neighbors—the promise of the Holy Spirit offers assurance that God will ultimately set things right. For centuries, Christians have sought to discern the timing of God’s final intervention by interpreting these signs from history and the heavens. However, the prophecy of Joel also signifies a dramatic reversal of fortunes for God’s repentant people. While the “Day of the Lord” has often been described as a day of destruction with dire consequences, Joel’s message, primarily through the lens of Pentecost, holds forth the prospect of profound hope and deliverance. This deliverance is integral to God’s promised blessings of restoration, including freedom from death and destruction. Rather than merely “looking between the lines” for future events, we are, like Peter in Acts 2, called to interpret Joel’s prophecy as having been partially fulfilled by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit during Pentecost. This historic event marks the beginning of God’s direct intervention, leading to ultimate deliverance and salvation for all who call on the name of the Lord. On that day, salvation is found in Jerusalem, representing God’s dwelling place, accessible to all who sincerely call upon Him.

This salvation from the plague of sin and separation from a holy God is made universally available through Christ Jesus and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Deliverance is promised to “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord.” This “calling on the name of the Lord” implies more than a simple plea for help; it signifies worshipping Yahweh, acknowledging allegiance to Him, and applying to Him for salvation. The New Testament applies this concept directly to calling on the name of Jesus, thereby equating Jesus with Yahweh and implying a call on the Messiah in His divine attributes. Furthermore, deliverance is declared to be found in Mount Zion and Jerusalem. While these locations hold significant historical and geographical meaning in the Old Testament, they are also understood symbolically in the New Testament as referring to the spiritual Israel or the Church. Deliverance is also found “among the survivors,” referring to a remnant whom the Lord shall call. This highlights that God’s sovereign grace chooses those delivered and are part of a called-out remnant, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human calling on the Lord and the Lord’s divine calling.

Prior to Jesus’ arrival, the ancient festivals served as vital reminders of God’s redemptive acts and the constant need for human reliance on Him. Following Christ’s sacrifice, our dependence on God remains, yet the burden of meticulous sacrifices has been lifted, fully accomplished by Jesus on the cross. Beyond offering universal salvation, God further empowers us to instigate genuine transformation in our world by bestowing the Holy Spirit upon us at Pentecost. This gift transcended all human distinctions—language, origin, or circumstance—becoming universally present and active. Therefore, as we might yearn for “the good old days” and lament perceived changes, we must recall the monumental shift God initiated two millennia ago. Through the Gospel, mourning was transformed into celebration, and the awesome gift of the Holy Spirit eternally reframed the world’s woes.

A profound yearning to make a difference often stirs within us. This desire finds itself in pursuing a career that brings hope to others or dedicating our time to serve those in need. As followers of Christ, this desire to better our world for the Gospel is a shared calling. However, a sense of unworthiness or uncertainty about how to proceed can be distressing. If we strive to make this impact ourselves, we risk burnout, much like a plant desperately trying to bear fruit by itself. In contrast, Christ invites us into a deeply rooted existence, nourished by Him as the life-giving vine. This connection allows us to abide in all Christ does for us. Even when we don’t feel close to Him and temptation pulls us away, we are reminded of His call to stay firmly connected to the vine, no matter what life brings. Drifting from this source diminishes God’s sustenance in our lives; thus, it is crucial to remain in Christ and resist the urge to act apart from Him.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 15:1–11.

Abiding in Christ, which translates to maintaining a continuous and enduring presence with Him, is foundational to a believer’s ability to bear fruit. This deep connection involves a close fellowship, a sustained conscious communion, and the constant occupation of the heart with Christ, all nurtured by active faith and a steadfast dependence on Him. The primary purpose of this spiritual union, much like a branch connected to a vine, is to produce fruit as the organic product and tangible evidence of the inner life derived directly from Christ. Indeed, bearing fruit glorifies the Father and stands as clear evidence that one is truly a disciple of Christ. This essential state of abiding necessitates a daily, active faith that consistently upholds the believer’s reliance on the vine, continuously drawing life and sustenance from Him by turning the gaze away from self and towards the Savior in a spirit of complete dependency. Ultimately, to abide in Christ is to dwell in His love, which primarily means continually enjoying and resting assured in Christ’s immeasurable love for the believer, even amidst trials, without doubting its steadfastness.

The path toward sanctification begins by abiding in Christ’s love. This abiding demands obedience by keeping His commandments, an obedience that is not a form of legalism but a joyful and willing expression of love, demonstrating a genuine friendship with Him, much like Jesus’ love for His disciples mirrors the Father’s love for Him. To abide signifies remaining, continuing, and even dwelling in Christ, referring explicitly to maintaining a conscious and sustained fellowship or communion with God through Him. This deep connection is further understood as Christ’s words abiding in the believer, meaning the Scriptures actively regulate their life as precepts and promises are personally embraced and treasured within the heart. Such constant and habitual communion with God through His Word allows its contents to permeate one’s innermost being, shaping thoughts and desires to align with God’s will. Consequently, this state of abiding in Christ, with His words deeply rooted in the believer, is directly connected to the promise of answered prayer, implying that when one is in close fellowship and their desires are harmonized with Christ’s will, their petitions will be granted.

Jesus commands the disciples and all believers to love one another “as I have loved you,” which invites believers to enter the profound mystery of Christ’s sacrificial death. This love requires all Christ followers to be willing to lay down their lives for one another, which reveals Jesus to the world. This required Christian love and obedience, which naturally flows from abiding in Christ, yields the fruit of service, which is defined not just as a Christian devout life, but also through tangible acts of care for the needy, with designs aimed at honoring God and actively doing good. Christ exhorts His followers explicitly to a compassionate lifestyle that includes giving, caring for fellow human beings, not neglecting the hungry, refraining from anger or insult, and readily sharing resources that reflect an understanding of one’s need for God’s mercy and the serious consequences of inhumanity. Ultimately, the joy experienced by those who abide in Christ and obey His commands, a joy that can be witnessed by others and draw them to Him, is implicitly linked to this active service towards the most vulnerable, showcasing a deeply personal and profoundly practical faith.

When fruit remains on the vine, it has unrestricted access to the plant’s life-giving nourishment. Similarly, to truly abide in Christ, we must diligently cultivate our connection with God through consistent fellowship, dedicated prayer, immersion in His Word, and embracing the lessons He imparts. This profound spiritual connection allows our faith to blossom and mature. Our fruit will be evident and appealing: good works that shine in the world, bringing glory to God and testifying our rootedness in Him, the true vine. As we live this out, the world witnesses the Gospel embodied in our lives and sees the blessings God extends. The palpable joy that radiates from our abiding in Christ can powerfully draw others to Him, transforming obedient followers into beacons of His peace and joy in the world.

Reflecting on the disciples’ misunderstandings, even after extensive time with Jesus, often prompts me to question their shortcomings; however, introspection reveals my errors, despite having followed Jesus longer than many of them and receiving years of theological training, fostering a greater sense of grace for their struggles. Christian Contemporary Music that I listened to growing up in my church youth group shaped my spiritual and theological framework. While I know many artists involved had great hearts, genuinely wanting to lead people to the Gospel and even contributing significantly to global health initiatives like combating HIV/AIDS, the genre had its limitations. Indeed, numerous leaders within this music scene eventually walked away from their faith because they couldn’t reconcile their life experiences with the feelings the music evoked, discovering nothing substantial beyond those emotions—a stark reminder that faith must be more than feeling. Where contemporary Christian music might fall short, Jesus offers enduring comfort. We often mistakenly look to external signs, songs, or leaders for guidance on how to live, yet Jesus repeatedly reminds us that proper direction comes from being led by Him alone. As His earthly time with the disciples drew to a close, He sought to comfort them, promising they would find genuine safety, solace, and strength through God. This profound assurance starkly contrasts with the empty promises offered by anyone else.

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 14:1–14.

Understanding Jesus transcends merely seeing Him as someone who shows us the way; fundamentally, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This profound reality necessitates that followers actively submit every facet of their existence to His guidance, moving beyond simple instruction to a profound, personal union with Him. Even the disciples, despite their proximity, initially struggled to grasp that knowing Jesus intimately meant inherently knowing the path to God (the Way), the ultimate reality of God (the Truth), and the source of spiritual vitality (the Life). Jesus wasn’t just pointing towards a destination; He is the destination, the embodiment of Truth and Life, through whom we are brought into the Father’s presence. Grasping this requires spiritual discernment, recognizing how Christ perfectly addresses humanity’s threefold need for reconciliation (the Way), illumination (the Truth), and regeneration (the Life), rescuing us from aimless wandering, deception, and spiritual death.

This divine identity and unity with the Father were intentionally demonstrated through Jesus’ works, which were designed to lead witnesses to faith in God by revealing that the Father was working through Him. Jesus Himself confirmed this intrinsic unity, explaining that His words originated from the Father and that His works were performed by the Father abiding in Him. Thus, to honestly know Jesus is to know the Father, as Jesus perfectly reveals God’s nature—the visible image of the invisible God. This underpins the call to believe in Jesus just as one believes in God, affirming His absolute deity and establishing Him as the exclusive way to the Father, a truth rooted in His unique divine person and incarnation. Embracing this belief offers profound peace and guards the heart against trouble.

Flowing directly from this understanding of Jesus and His unity with the Father, believers are called to imitate Christ comprehensively, in both word and deed. By actively performing the kinds of works Jesus did, the Church demonstrates His living presence within them and the enduring power of the Gospel. Jesus promised that believers would perform His works and even “greater works”—not necessarily more spectacular miracles, but broader spiritual realities like conveying truth, bestowing kingdom blessings, converting multitudes, and enabling the global spread of the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit, facilitated by His ascension. Crucially, these works are accomplished not by the believer’s strength but by the resurrected Christ working powerfully through them. The Father continues the Son’s work through disciples united to Him in faith, empowered by the Spirit. Therefore, yielding to Christ’s power within us and ensuring our actions reflect His self-emptying example, free from self-serving motives, is essential. Only by faithfully following Jesus’ ways in this manner can we effectively minister the Gospel to the poor and needy, truly embodying His life and mission in the world.

Thus, Jesus challenges all who might be disciples to truly embody the Gospel and live, speak, work, and act as He did. Through this living, the world will see Jesus, the Father, and the Spirit acting through us, thus shining God’s light for the world to see. However, to live like Jesus, we must study and understand what Jesus stands for, and even when we have been engrossed in the Word reading and intensely studying, we tend to miss that we need to keep looking to Jesus to show us the way, the truth, and the life.  Many big feelings will move our hearts, but Jesus reminds us not to take our eyes off Him in all circumstances. Life will always throw different experiences at us, some good, some bad, and a lot that may be a mix of the two, but we cannot get caught up in the feeling that they give us, because following God is more than just a feeling; it is a way of living. When we realize that we must cast aside anything that will try to rival the place God demands in our life and start living for God, we will do the works that Jesus does, and God will show the world light shining through us.

There is something genuinely odd about the history of Christianity; the more we grow and progress in spreading the Gospel, the more it inevitably leads the Church closer to a split. This oddity is not unique to the modern church, as it began to split formally in the 11th Century, with its roots dating back to the 4th Century. This trajectory is evident today in more churches popping up to cater to the specific whims of an evangelical swarm that only wants to exist in its little echo chamber. A divided church is antithetical to the Gospel, for the Gospel intends to unite disparate groups and align with a sacrificial servant sent by the Father to save the world from sin. Jesus came so the world might be saved, not just one small group. Ideological differences will exist, but they were never supposed to divide. After Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and told them about the reality that ideological differences would eventually lead to his betrayal, Jesus still sought to remind the disciples that the old commandment was getting a makeover. Even as Jesus drew nearer to the end of His time with the disciples, he wanted to engrain within them that the core of sharing the Gospel starts with how well they care for and love one another.

31 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 glorify him at once. 33 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.’ 34 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. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 13:31–35.

After the departure of Jesus’ betrayer, Judas, Jesus knew it was critical to address the remaining disciples about how the glory of God would be revealed, regardless of how things were going to appear. God’s glory is displayed through sacrifice, even amid betrayal and strife. The betrayal led to arrest, prosecution, and ultimately crucifixion. However, Jesus showed the world that glorification acts in resistance to those seeking worldly power or acclaim. True glory from God was ultimately achieved through Jesus’ impending suffering, death, and subsequent resurrection and exaltation. Jesus’ perfect obedience and love in his self-sacrifice glorify God, while God, in turn, glorifies Jesus. There is no delay in receiving God’s glory because Jesus receives it already on the cross, and thus provides a lens that allows us to recognize that the cross points toward the resurrection and ultimate ascension. God’s ultimate act of love for humanity was demonstrated on the cross, and the glory of God was gifted to us in the resurrection.

As the cross came nearer to ending the time the disciples had with Jesus, Jesus understood the immediacy of the message he had to deliver. Similarly, we don’t get infinite opportunities to share the Gospel, so we must make the most of every moment. Whether it be a move, a life situation change, or even death, there is a temporary nature to our relationships that we should never take any encounter for granted. For the disciples, this is shown through the reality that they cannot immediately follow him to the glory He is about to enter, emphasizing the unique nature of his journey through death and resurrection. While some of us have spent years following Christ, many have not, and may not immediately come to faith, but they will remember how we treated them and how we treat one another. Therefore, we need to allow this to be the Gospel that people take with them wherever they go. Turning back to Jesus, He referred to the disciples as His little children, not as an insult, but in an endearing manner, because they relied upon Him. Thus, Jesus wanted to make the most of the time he had left, so that they would understand how to love like he loved them. So too must the church make the most out of every moment we have with people and love them.

The old becomes new as Jesus shows us that the most crucial way we disciple one another and share the Gospel is by LOVING ONE ANOTHER. The defining characteristic of this new commandment is the standard set: “as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34 ESV). The elevation of the standard of love now goes beyond the Old Testament command to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Christ’s sacrificial love, demonstrated in the foot washing and soon to be completed on the cross, becomes the model. This love is not merely sentimental but involves tangible actions, self-sacrifice, and unity within the Christian community. The absence of such love can be a stumbling block to those outside the faith. Jesus declares, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35 ESV). Mutual love within the community of believers becomes the distinguishing mark of Christian identity, a powerful witness to the world.

Jesus delivers this command to the disciples at a time when he knows that there are forces out there that will thrive on the disintegration of the core through turning on each other, especially since this happens in the aftermath of Judas leaving the group to complete his betrayal. Thus, the disciples are vulnerable and need encouragement from Jesus at this critical juncture. Now, we must take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to hear what Jesus tells us in this passage and work to reverse the trend of church splits and failures, bringing a Gospel message that speaks volumes to a divided world. We start by loving one another, even if we think differently. We don’t just give lip service to loving one another, but genuinely reach out and show them love. Our generation of believers needs to be truly counter-cultural, defeat the rampant division, and embrace Jesus’ command to love one another. Through these actions, the Gospel may be seen as effective and powerful, drowning out the hateful divisiveness of certain parts of Christianity and the rest of the world.