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 BE GLORIFIED - Notice the use of the word, doxa, "glory,"
"glorify," "glorified;" Doxa appears five times, shifting from past to
future tense. Clearly a key word in the passage but how should we understand Jesus’
speaking and John’s usage of it here? Should we understand doxa to refer to Jesus
having a glimpse of God’s grand plan of propagating a new community of disciples
through him? Could this be a direct reference to 12:28b: "Then a voice came from
heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again?" This won’t be
easy to work through. I would therefore recommend that you investigate several critical
commentaries on this very passage - you may well discover how elusive the precise meaning
is for doxa in this passage. [cf. John 1:14 - ". . . and we beheld his doxa as of a
father’s only son, full of grace and truth.]
LIVING OUT LIMITLESS LOVE- One of the most powerful contemporary North American
examples of a life that followed fully Jesus’ model of limitless love is that of
Martin Luther King, Jr. His death came not because he chose to give up hiS life for
others, but because he chose to live the love of Jesus fully. In sermons from near the end
of his life, it is apparent that King knew full well the jeopardy into which his ministry
put his life, but to live out the love of Jesus, he put no limits on his love. Bishop
Oscar Romero, too, did not choose to give up his life, but he chose to love his
"sheep" fully, which ultimately meant laying down his life for them. [1]
 To model our lives on love is to
model our lives on a love that has no limits, that knows no boundaries and restrictions.
 To use this passage as your primary
preaching text, you may want to consider viewing it in relationship to the meaning of
discipleship as it is seen through the lens of the entire thirteenth chapter. The chapter
begins with some action that stems from a theological insight: "Jesus knew that his
hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who
were in the world, he loved them to the end." So we begin with love in action, based
on some theological self-reflection, but the chapter closes with a commandment to love in
light of this pensive last hour, this hour of glorification.
What happens between the opening and closing scenes? Jesus’ words of admonishment
for his disciples to follow his lead and also offer servanthood ministry to others. Then
comes the possibility of undiscipleship even within the beloved community.
This seems like an "in-house" command with its "one another"
emphasis, yet experience reminds us how difficult at times it is to express love toward
our respective worship communities.
To model our lives on love is to model our lives on a love that has no limits, that
knows no boundaries and restrictions.
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[1] New Interpreter’s Bible IX (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995),
page 734.
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