A NEW WAY TO LOVE

 

A NEW WAY TO LOVE

John 13:34 "So now I am giving you a new commandment. Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other." NLT

Jesus was right on the verge of Calvary. He was spending His last few hours on earth with His disciples in fellowship and teaching them those things that matter the most. He not only taught them about love, He demonstrated to them what He meant. He, the Son of God, knelt down before each of His disciples, Judas included, and washed their feet. Have you ever participated in a feet-washing service? I have. It is a humbling experience to have someone else kneel down before you and wash your feet. It is an act of love to both wash another person's feet, and to let them do it to you. If done properly, I believe such a service should be a part of every believer's worship experience sometime in their life.

Jesus washed Judas' feet, knowing full well that it was Judas who was going to betray Him. He did not withhold from Judas His love.

Jesus washed the disciples' feet knowing that in a few short hours He would be crucified for our sins and that He would do it all alone. He knew the disciples before whom He knelt would all desert Him in His hour of greatest need. He didn't wrap himself up in His own thoughts and emotions but considered the needs of His disciples before He would leave them. Jesus knew that they needed to understand how to love each other unconditionally and sacrificially before He would leave them on their own. They needed a life lesson that they would not forget. He washed their feet.

Like the disciples, we too need to learn what it means to love each other. So much of what passes as godly love is nothing more than lip service. We say we love each other, but often our actions betray us. Let us strive to always love as Jesus loves.