Daily Bread 2011 - John 13
Daily Bread 2011 – John 13
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
What Does This Mean?
Today’s passage is preceded by Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet. In this example of humble servanthood, Jesus shows them the full extent of His love. Importantly, in verse 3, it says Jesus knew that His Father had put all things under His power. So what does He do with that power, He washes the disciples’ feet, which was ordinarily the job of a servant.
This sets the context for the above verse where Jesus gives the disciples a new command to love one another, as He had loved them. Someone might say it what sense is it new, since in the Old Testament it gives the command, “Lord the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul and strength; love your neighbor as yourself.”
The newness comes with the sense in which Jesus fulfilled this command, and its ultimate fulfillment which will come the next day as Jesus goes to the cross. Importantly Jesus says that this is how the world will know we are His disciples by modeling this deep, sacrificial love for each other.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Sometimes we in the church spend all kinds of time trying to figure out how to market ourselves so more people will come to know Jesus. In some ways this isn’t bad if it connects those outside the Church to Christ. But I wonder if we spent more time worrying about loving each other in the sense Jesus gives us today; if it wouldn’t be a more effective marketing tool.
Meaning, the most important thing the Church offers, which is counter-cultural, is the love of Christ. This kind of love which Jesus demonstrates cannot be found in the world; and it is what everyone in the world needs. What is the best way to show that love? Loving one another! Jesus gives us the example of washing each other’s feet, as an example of what this might mean. While we might literally wash each other’s feet, the main message is that we might serve each other and find out what each other’s needs are.
Of course to do this we have to be in relationship and actually know each other. This often can’t happen in an hour on Sunday morning. This is why small and mid-group activities are essential for the love of Christ to be demonstrated for the world to see what Jesus is really like. It also means that many of our evangelism efforts will not always have to happen on Sunday morning, but can happen whenever two or three are gathered in Jesus’ name.
Heavenly Father help us to serve one another as Jesus served us by giving His life on the cross. May we demonstrate this kind of love to each other and in so doing drawing people to Jesus, Amen.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
What Does This Mean?
Today’s passage is preceded by Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet. In this example of humble servanthood, Jesus shows them the full extent of His love. Importantly, in verse 3, it says Jesus knew that His Father had put all things under His power. So what does He do with that power, He washes the disciples’ feet, which was ordinarily the job of a servant.
This sets the context for the above verse where Jesus gives the disciples a new command to love one another, as He had loved them. Someone might say it what sense is it new, since in the Old Testament it gives the command, “Lord the Lord Your God with all your heart, soul and strength; love your neighbor as yourself.”
The newness comes with the sense in which Jesus fulfilled this command, and its ultimate fulfillment which will come the next day as Jesus goes to the cross. Importantly Jesus says that this is how the world will know we are His disciples by modeling this deep, sacrificial love for each other.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Sometimes we in the church spend all kinds of time trying to figure out how to market ourselves so more people will come to know Jesus. In some ways this isn’t bad if it connects those outside the Church to Christ. But I wonder if we spent more time worrying about loving each other in the sense Jesus gives us today; if it wouldn’t be a more effective marketing tool.
Meaning, the most important thing the Church offers, which is counter-cultural, is the love of Christ. This kind of love which Jesus demonstrates cannot be found in the world; and it is what everyone in the world needs. What is the best way to show that love? Loving one another! Jesus gives us the example of washing each other’s feet, as an example of what this might mean. While we might literally wash each other’s feet, the main message is that we might serve each other and find out what each other’s needs are.
Of course to do this we have to be in relationship and actually know each other. This often can’t happen in an hour on Sunday morning. This is why small and mid-group activities are essential for the love of Christ to be demonstrated for the world to see what Jesus is really like. It also means that many of our evangelism efforts will not always have to happen on Sunday morning, but can happen whenever two or three are gathered in Jesus’ name.
Heavenly Father help us to serve one another as Jesus served us by giving His life on the cross. May we demonstrate this kind of love to each other and in so doing drawing people to Jesus, Amen.
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