Context is that these chapters are the final words Jesus gives to His disciples before He is arrested. He knows what He will be facing and is trying to instruct and encourage His disciples. He also is emphasizing what they need to know and how to act in the days ahead. Jesus’ demonstration by washing their feet had to stick in their memories and provide a vivid statement of how His disciples heed to think and act toward each other.
I suspect the question for today is – how have we accepted and acted on this demonstration? Do we esteem each other? Would anyone know? If you look at the evidence of the number of independent churches and the number of denominations, one may wonder if this lesson has even been broached! And all the church-jumping and offense taking… how does this show that we are acting on what Jesus taught, demonstrated, and expected from His disciples? In the final analysis – it really isn’t about whether you are receiving this… it’s all about if you are demonstrating it.
If this sounds like a rant… then it’s directed as much toward myself as it is toward other believers. Would the suspicion, hatred, misunderstandings, riots, etc. be in existence if the church first loved? And love is strong… not wishy washy or pallid. It doesn’t back away because it is based on/in the Lord’s principles and standards. Truth is truth… spoken in love yes, but also uncompromising and unequivocal. Jesus never tempered truth, He never provided mixed messages because He didn’t want others to take offense or be upset – but He was always available to explain and bring enlightenment.
If we are ever to do ‘as I have loved you’ then we need to know and understand how and when Jesus demonstrated love. Do we need to learn about love? There are countless number of verses that Jesus teaches on this.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor (fellow man) and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:43-44, AMP)
Wow! This takes love an additional step. Love has some strict requirements. And I’m beginning to think that the starting point is our motives. Our ‘why’ of loving.
“I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.” (John 15:9-10, AMP)
For me, these 2 verses tell me what to do:
- remain in His love,
- do not doubt,
- keep His commandments,
- obey His teachings
and then I will succeed and remain in His love. Then my motivation toward others will be based in love and I will be demonstrating love. Not necessarily easy… then again, who among us is always easy to love? Not the issue – we are to love as Jesus loves.
