I believe this may be the most important lesson in the Bible. We know how God showed his love for us...by sacrificing His son to pay for our sins. But how do we show our love for God? Can there be any more powerful way than by showing love for all of that He has created? We are called to love our neighbor and I believe we are called to love all other living things as well. I've rationalized that that doesn't include flies and mosquitoes, but it probably does. So some animals are more difficult to love than others, just as some people are more difficult. But we need to keep the example of Judas in mind. It's pretty clear what Jesus was saying and demonstrating.
The imagery in this portion of scripture is powerful. Jesus affirms the titles that he is given by the disciples, as "Lord and Teacher." Then as their lord and teacher he takes it beyond teaching and puts the teaching into practice. This would have been SO scandalous!! In that day, students of a rabbi would was the feet of their rabbi and serve his every desire. For a rabbi to perform such a task would have truly been the ultimate sign of servanthood and humility.
I get the impression that we would all wash the feet of Jesus, but would we take this example to our enemies? The text makes clear he washed all their feet. Imagine washing the feet of your betrayer (Judas?)
This example may be too hard! If I'm honest, I'm not sure I can do that to my enemies. Lord help me to love my enemies just like you told us to, and demonstrated!!
A great pastor once taught me not to "try" to be like Jesus, but to "train" to be like Jesus. So while I'll never be able to love my enemies like Jesus could, I'll keep getting better at it, with His inspiration.
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I believe this may be the most important lesson in the Bible. We know how God showed his love for us...by sacrificing His son to pay for our sins. But how do we show our love for God? Can there be any more powerful way than by showing love for all of that He has created? We are called to love our neighbor and I believe we are called to love all other living things as well. I've rationalized that that doesn't include flies and mosquitoes, but it probably does. So some animals are more difficult to love than others, just as some people are more difficult. But we need to keep the example of Judas in mind. It's pretty clear what Jesus was saying and demonstrating.
The imagery in this portion of scripture is powerful. Jesus affirms the titles that he is given by the disciples, as "Lord and Teacher." Then as their lord and teacher he takes it beyond teaching and puts the teaching into practice. This would have been SO scandalous!! In that day, students of a rabbi would was the feet of their rabbi and serve his every desire. For a rabbi to perform such a task would have truly been the ultimate sign of servanthood and humility.
I get the impression that we would all wash the feet of Jesus, but would we take this example to our enemies? The text makes clear he washed all their feet. Imagine washing the feet of your betrayer (Judas?)
This example may be too hard! If I'm honest, I'm not sure I can do that to my enemies. Lord help me to love my enemies just like you told us to, and demonstrated!!
A great pastor once taught me not to "try" to be like Jesus, but to "train" to be like Jesus. So while I'll never be able to love my enemies like Jesus could, I'll keep getting better at it, with His inspiration.
Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
Beautiful imagery of Jesus’s love for His people.