Skip to main content

Love one Another

"When he(Judas) was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:31-35

Jesus was always looking for opportunities to teach those around Him. This night in John 13 with His disciples was no exception. Jesus had gathered with them around a table for the Feast of the Passover. It was a night, like many others, for conversation and communion among friends who had journeyed together for 3 years. Only this night was markedly different than the rest. Jesus knew that Judas, one of His closest companions, was only minutes away from betraying Him. In this moment, there were so many lessons Jesus could have taught His disciples. But, He chose the one that He knew would prove to be the most challenging for them, and for us, in moments of hurt and betrayal. He was keenly aware of the difficult journey that lay ahead of the disciples. They would face ridicule and pain for the sake of the gospel. So Jesus chose to teach them to love others just as He had loved them. He was careful to inform them that others would know Whose they were by the way they loved. Just before this passage in verses 13-20, Jesus gave them a beautiful example of what it looked like to lead with love as He became in very nature a servant by washing their feet. His example was to serve others in extravagant ways, even those who would betray Him.

I don't know about you, but my first response to betrayal or rejection is not typically serving those who have hurt me. Crying, bitterness, anger...yes to all of those but serving? Heck to the NO. Jesus knew what would happen to my heart if left in patterns of bitterness. Left too long in unresolved hurt, I will become very self-focused. The formula for shifting from self to others-focus is simple...SERVING OTHERS! It's nearly impossible to stay upset when you are serving someone else. I may not have the desire to minister to those who have hurt me, but in view of God's love and forgiveness for me, I am compelled to. Jesus knows what I will do to hurt, deny or betray Him, and yet He still climbed on the cross for me and will always love me unconditionally. I've personally experienced the healing power of a humble act of service that turns hurt and betrayal into compassion and love.

We gain the power to love and serve others through what He has done for us. And do you know what happens when we live and love the way Jesus did? When we live with an others focus? The world takes notice! Just like Jesus said, people will recognize Whose we are by our love!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

There's a Gift in the Silence

"Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin. As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law." (Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭50-56‬ NLT) That Saturday so long ago must've brought utter confusion and disbelief to those who followed Jesus and believed t
Post a Comment
Read more

His Arrest brought my Freedom

"Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, “P
Post a Comment
Read more

Jesus is King!

"The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” John 12:12-19 This was it! The moment they had all been waiti
Post a Comment
Read more