Tuesday 18 August 2026

Psalm 104:24-35

Background
Today’s reading is often seen as the beginning of Jesus’ ‘farewell speech’.  However, this is not an extended speech. It’s a conversation between Jesus and the remaining disciples, following Judas’ departure and ‘farewell discourse’ is a better description.

Jesus had predicted that one of his 12 disciples would betray him and demonstrated that he knew who it would be. Judas, despite following Jesus for three years, had chosen not only to turn away from the way of Jesus, but also to lead the soldiers assigned to arrest Jesus to him. With Judas out of the way, Jesus was concerned to bring the remaining group closer together and prepare them for his imminent arrest and trial.

Interestingly, Peter, who is nearly always the first to speak and often gets things wrong, didn’t seem to register Jesus’ words about loving one another. Instead, he picks up on the statement that precedes that ‘commandment’. Jesus had said he would not be with them much longer and they would be unable to find him or follow him (v. 33). This is, understandably, a huge disappointment and challenge to the disciples, and it clearly left them confused. They would also have begun to feel fearful, knowing that, just as Jesus was under threat because of his actions and words, so too, by association, were they.

Jesus’ ‘new commandment’ is drawn from a verse in the Hebrew Scriptures that would have been very well known to the disciples (Leviticus 19:18). Something similar appears in many moral codes. What is new here is the motivation for loving one another.  They were to love, not because they were told to, but as a response to the love of God shown to them in Jesus. By doing so they would then pass that love on to others with whom they came into contact.

Peter, distracted by the sense of impending loss, missed this point. In pressing the question about where Jesus was going, he inadvertently opened the way for Jesus’ second prediction of the evening, that Peter would deny knowing him before the night was out.

To Ponder:

• Can you recall when you first became aware of the love of God?
• Consider if and when you have been diverted from that love because of misunderstanding, loss, or fear?

Prayer
Lord, it's not always easy to love our fellow churchgoers and sometimes relationships break down. Where there is any guilt or hurt in our relationships bring your healing. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Pamela Cram
Pamela worked in several circuits and ecumenical posts in Wales before retiring in the Swansea Valley, where she is involved in a non-denominational community project; a church partnership with a Welsh independent church; and action for Fairtrade.