Jesus' Farewell Address
A New Commandment
In the closing hours before His crucifixion, Jesus imparts a profound and significant commandment to His disciples—one that embodies the essence of His ministry and the centerpiece of His message. Within the verses of John 13:31-35, we find not only a command but a challenge– a call to exemplify the love that Christ demonstrated throughout His earthly ministry. This love, is to serve as a distinctive characteristic of their faith and a testimony to the world.
The Announcement of Betrayal
Jesus’ demeanor shifted noticeably, becoming solemn and reserved, his countenance was overshadowed by a sense of foreboding. Christ’s focus shifts from acts of service to the act of betrayal as His attention shifts to Judas, the betrayer. Only two in the upper room were aware of the urgency in Jesus’ words.