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The Lord’s Table-Talk
by
Josprel
KJV= King James Version
TEV= Today’s English Version: Fourth Edition
American Bible Society; New York
“A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I
have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know
that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one unto another” (John
13:34-35; KJV).
The disciples’ last meal with Jesus in the upper room, before the
crucifixion, had ended and Judas had left the group to betray his Master.
Jesus, together with His eleven other disciples remained at the table,
and began His final table-talk with them. His purpose in the talk was
twofold: to prepare them for His departure and to encourage them.
“My children I shall not be with you much longer. You will look for me;
but I tell you now what I told the Jewish authorities, ‘You cannot go
where I am going.’ And now I give you a new commandment: love one
another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. If you have love
for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples”
(John 13:33-35; TEV).
Jesus also told them, “There are many rooms in my Father’s house, and I
am going to prepare a place for you . . . And after I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that
you will be where I am (John 14:2 – 4; TEV). He then puzzled His
disciples by stating that they knew where he was going and also how get
there.
This so perplexed Thomas that he exclaimed, “Lord we do not know where
you are going. How can we know the way to get there?” (John 14:5; TEV)
Jesus responded, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to
the Father except by me” (John 14:6; TEV).
Before leaving the table, Jesus informed them, “I cannot talk with you
much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power
over me, but the world must know that I love the Father; that is why I
do everything as he [the Father] commands me. Come, let us leave this
place (John 14:30-32; TEV).
The obedience of Jesus to His Father openly demonstrated His love for
Him. Obedience to God should characterize all God’s children, but sadly,
such is not the case. At times Christians behave like the little girl
who threw her arms around her mother exclaiming “Oh, mommy, I love you
so much I could die for you!”
To which her mother replied, “Now that’s strange. I have a daughter who
is willing to die for me, but she didn’t wash the dishes when I asked
her to.”
There is an immense gulf between love that emanates from a momentary
emotion and love that is demonstrated as an act of our free will,
especially when we know that giving that love will cost us something. Most
often there is no emotion involved with the latter kind of love. It is a
disinterested love, freely given, sometimes at great cost to the giver.
Such disinterested love for our fellow believers, flowing forth without
reservation, marks those who are genuine followers of Christ.
It bears noting that Jesus did not designate the performance of mighty
signs and wonders as the badge of discipleship; they can be
counterfeited. Neither did the Lord authorize the use of spiritual gifts for the
purpose of self-aggrandizement. As demonstrated by the Corinthian
church, such gifts, exercised self-servingly and without being impelled by
genuine love, amount to “no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell”
(1st Corinthians 13:1; TEV).
In 1st Corinthian 13, The Apostle Paul outlines what amounts to a
negative formula regarding spiritual gifts.
Negative Formula #1: Tongues minus love = noise:
Verse 1 - “I may be able to speak the languages of men and even of
angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a
clanging bell” (TEV).
Negative Formula #2: Spiritual gifts minus love = personal
insignificance: Verse 2 - “Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I
could remove mountains, and have not charity [love,] I am nothing” (KJV).
Negative Formula #3: Philanthropy + martyrdom minus love =
non-profitable: Verse 3 - “I may give away everything I have, and even give up my
body to be burned – but if I have no love, this does me no good (TEV).
In verses 4-8, the Apostle Paul next logs love’s positive qualities:
1. Love is long-suffering. It endlessly endures all things.
2. Love is kind. It is benign, gracious and amicable.
3. Love is not envious. It never displays jealousy.
4. Love does not boast. It does not brag or parade itself.
5. Love in not puffed up. It is not arrogant, conceited or
egotistical.
6. Love does not behave itself unseemly. It is not rude, vulger or
ill-mannered.
7. Love is not self-seeking. It is unselfish; it does not insist upon
its rights.
8. Love is not provoked or irritable. It does not grumble or complain.
9. Love does not think evil. It think good of others.
10. Love does not rejoice in iniquity. It rejoices in purity.
11. Love does not keep a record of wrongs.
12. Love is eternal.
Spiritual gifts shall pass away, but faith, hope and love abide
eternally.
-30-
© Josprel (Joseph Perrello)
josprel@verizon.net
About the Author:
Josprel is an ordained minister who resides with his wife,
Maria, in Western New York - just across the Niagara River from Canada.
Niagara Falls is a short drive from his home. After drifting from the
Lord, he served three years with the U.S. Air Force. Upon his
separation from active duty, he returned to the Lord, studied for the ministry,
and received a master of theology degree. Josprel serves as a clergyman
in the evangelical denomination of his youth. He is authoring two
novels: "Beloved Apostate" and "Kanfal."
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