The Gospel According to John | "Loving Like Jesus in the Face of Betrayal" John 13 | Pastor Jason Polk

In this message from Echo Church, we step into Gospel of John chapter 13, during the final night before Jesus' crucifixion—a moment filled with deep teaching, raw emotion, and ultimate love. Focusing on the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, the sermon flips the usual perspective. Instead of centering on Judas' failure, it highlights the overwhelming love of Jesus Christ. Even knowing betrayal was coming, Jesus continues to honor, serve, and extend grace to Judas—revealing a love that isn't based on worthiness, but on His unchanging character. The message unpacks three key ideas: The heart of Jesus: He feels the pain of betrayal deeply, showing that sin doesn't just break rules—it breaks relationship. A new commandment: Love one another as Jesus has loved us—a radical, sacrificial, and unconditional standard. How we respond: The defining mark of a Christian isn't success, status, or perfection—it's love. A love that is patient, unified, and visible even across differences. Ultimately, the sermon challenges listeners to move beyond simply knowing about Jesus to truly knowing Him—and to reflect His love in a way that the world can't ignore.