After Judas left the gathering of disciples at the Passover supper, Jesus began to share his heart with the ones who remained. Judas was on his way to put in motion the events that would lead to the death of Jesus, but Jesus saw glory in what lay ahead.

“When he was gone, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man is 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.’” John 13:31-32

Until now Jesus had healed some people. What he was about to do on the cross would bring healing to all people. In making the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, Jesus honored God’s justice, righteousness and holiness. The Father was glorified in the Son, and the Father was going to glorify the Son for what he did. This hope sustained Jesus through that night and the next day.

The Scattered Sheep

Jesus was going away and his disciples couldn’t go with him.

“Peter asked, ‘Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’” John 13:37

Jesus knew that his disciples wouldn’t be able to stay with him through his ordeal. One of the passages that foretold the suffering of the Messiah was Zechariah 12:10 – 13:9. In Zechariah 13:7 the prophet wrote, “Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.”

The sheep were not equipped to stand with the shepherd. In fact, they were in danger from the same enemy who threatened Jesus.

“‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’

“But he replied, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.’

“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.’” Luke 22:31-34

Peter often overestimated what he was capable of doing, and he learned some hard lessons through his failures. But Jesus always saw where Peter was going, not where he had been. He knew Peter would recover and he would strengthen his brothers.

In the midst of this prelude to suffering, Jesus shared a hopeful promise, and I wonder if the disciples caught it, it went by so quickly. Jesus actually promised that they would all reunite back in Galilee after his death and resurrection.

“After I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Mark 14:28

They could not go where he was going the next day, but they could go where he was going after his resurrection.

A Private Conversation

Much of the time that the disciples were with Jesus they had to share him with lots of other people. Even when he invited them to come away for some time alone with him crowds interrupted them, or a needy person appeared and claimed all of Jesus’ attention. People waited by the roads, came to houses he visited, crashed dinner parties, and even dropped down through the ceiling.

So a private conversation with Jesus like the one in John chapters 13-17, was unique. Jesus said things in this conversation he could only say to true disciples. It’s good that John recorded his words, because now we can read them as a conversation Jesus is having with us, too.

There is a form of meditation that is perfect for today’s passages. It’s called Ignatian Contemplation, and Ignatius of Loyola, a Spanish nobleman in the sixteenth century, developed it. He discovered the power of using imagination in reading Scripture and taught it to others. It has remained a widely used way to meditate on the Word.

Here is how to practice this kind of meditation:

1. Read the passage through once, to get its content. Then read it again and notice a few details you missed the first time.
2. Close your eyes and visualize the scene you are reading. What do you see? What do you hear, smell, and feel?
3. Now, in your imagination walk into the scene and find a place for yourself. Who else is there? What are they saying or doing?
4. What part do you play in this scene?
5. Begin a conversation with the Lord about what you see, hear and feel.

Jesus Loves Us

John 13:1 says, “Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

Everything Jesus said in John 13-17 was rooted in his love. He was patient when Thomas and Philip said they didn’t understand what he was saying (John 14:5-11). He listened carefully to their questions and when he saw that they couldn’t fully understand his answers, he promised to send help.

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:25-26

And Jesus wanted his disciples to experience the peace he felt inside that night.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Judas was in Jerusalem informing on Jesus in that moment, and a plan was underway to arrest him and turn him over to the Romans for crucifixion the next day. Jesus must have known that this was his last meal and that there would be no sleep that night, yet he said he had peace. He wanted his disciples to feel the way he did because of the loving, trusting relationship he had with his Father.

“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with them.” John 14:23

Connected to Jesus

Jesus didn’t talk like a man who was dying. On this night before his crucifixion he invited his disciples to remain connected to him for the rest of their lives. He was going away, and later he was coming back, but in the meantime his Spirit would live in them. Jesus expected to die, and to live again, and then to live forever.

His followers would live forever, too, if they stayed connected to him. Jesus was the source of life to his disciples just as a vine is the source of life for the branches and the fruit they bear.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Staying connected to Jesus meant obeying his commands.

“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:10-13

Jesus was about to live up to his own command and lay down his life for his friends. They didn’t understand yet why he had to do this. It would take some time before they put together how his sacrifice purchased their salvation.

In the meantime, it was enough to know that he loved them, that he had chosen them, and that everything he did was for them. He had also equipped them to go and do the work he assigned to them.

“You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:14-17