Commentary on the Gospel of
May 16 – John 13:16 – 20 Ambassadors for Christ
Quite interesting that as a matter of emphasis our Lord Jesus Christ reiterates his statement of verse 16 in verse 20: ‘the apostle is sent by the Lord’ and ‘to receive the sent amounts to reception of the sender!’ These are statements of real life experience, for no one sends oneself! The ambassador of a nation represents his country and anything done to him or for him is considered done to the nation itself; so it is with one the Lord sends!
We recall that these statements come soon after leaving us with his great legacy of ‘love one another as I have loved you’ – showcased in the washing of the apostles’ feet! This emphasis by our Lord makes one raise some questions, such as: could bearing the Good News (that is representing Jesus) make one -
- Pompous, while our master came to serve and actually served?
- Boastful, when our Lord was completely lowly, bent down to wash their feet?
- Arrogant, while our Savoir was simple and cool headed?
- Flamboyant, whereas our master, the wonder- worker ever remains meek and humble?
Representing or acknowledging our Lord before people is so vital that in Matthew’s gospel account (10:32), the Lord attaches a blessing to it “I also will acknowledge him before my Father who is in heaven.” What a delight, looking forward to our Master’s personal advocacy on my behalf! That means, for representing or acknowledging him, I am assured of heaven!! So what are we waiting for? At communal level, our lives, our relationships as Christians bear witness to Jesus Christ. Just as it was in Antioch (that while the Christians lived their ordinary daily lives, they were seen to be ‘Christ –like’, ‘Christians’), so it ought to be today among us. We are challenged even more today!
