“When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. ³² If God has been glorified in him,^[j] God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. ³³ Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ ³⁴ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:31-35

The Gospel of John is probably the most difficult to understand, yet it brings us some of the most quotable teachings from Jesus. He teaches:“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  And again he brings words of comfort: “Do not let you hearts be troubled.  Believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”  And finally, “I am the way and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

Jesus teaches a Gospel of love, acceptance and life – abundant life now and life in the age to come. Loving one another while we rest in the assurance that Jesus is preparing a place for you and for me in the resurrection to the Kingdom of G-d, well, these are the bedrock of our beliefs as Christians. This is why the Gospel of John is so important to me.

Pastor Dave