Fifth Sunday of Easter

WesleyMen Lenten & Easter Devotionals 2025

Gospel Lectionary

John 13:31-35 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

³¹ 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, 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.”

Reflection

Five verses and just eight sentences – each packed full with so many carefully chosen words from Jesus. Jesus is on the move! In his own way he shares that he will be glorified by God through what is about to happen, and that through his crucifixion, Jesus will also glorify God. And it’s going to happen any time now!

Jesus is clear that he won’t be around much longer. Nowhere to be found. Not possible to follow (until later, as we find out in verse 36). How did those eleven disciples feel? They had spent so much time following and being with Jesus as his closest friends. Many of us know how hard it can be when we lose those most dear to us.

And just when Jesus is about to move on, he offers one of his most life-changing commandments to his disciples. Love, love, love! Love one another, love one another, love one another! Love that will be seen by others. Love for everyone to see. Love that will be so powerful that it will affect other people’s lives.

There’s lots going on in the world at the moment. I have to admit that when I listen to the news, I am finding it hard to see the sort of love that Jesus commanded of us spilling out across our global community. There are military wars and terrorist armed conflicts. There is greed and power seeking by national leaders and individuals like we have not seen for generations. There is so much pain and distress being caused by the actions of some human beings towards others. I often wonder, if love really thrived within these leaders, politicians and decision makers, would we being led into such troubling times?

Not only was Jesus on the move, but so is WesleyMen! WesleyMen, as an umbrella fellowship for all men within the Methodist, Wesleyan and Uniting traditions, is moving into new things. Its on the move to support existing and new men’s groups within local, regional and national churches. Its on the move into a space where true ‘connexion’ can be found for men to explore and out-work their faith together.

During this Easter season, let us prayerfully read these words from John’s Gospel together around the world, so that we too can form that community of Jesus’ disciples. We too can hear, once again, Jesus’ commandment to love one another, love one another as Christ has loved us, and love one another so much that others will be infected with that overflowing love for all humanity.

Prayer

Loving God, we ask that You will help us to love more. Give us strength to step out in love into our communities, to use the love that You plant in our hearts to challenge injustice, and to offer Your love to others so they too can share in all that Your love brings. Amen.

Mr. David Friswell, WesleyMen Europe