Tag: god

He Loved Them to the End

Jesus had done for the Disciples what none of them thought to do for Jesus or for each other. He had washed their feet as a complete act of servant love; the greater love that lays itself down for another.

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John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

This was the day. The blessed, hopeful events of the week would begin to spiral downward and the glory of our Sovereign God was about to be revealed. This Passover meal would forever be remembered as the Last Supper. On this pivotal day, Jesus continued to love and teach his Disciples what genuine love is and what it does. In the midst of these flawed and sinful men, he demonstrated his great love and affection by washing their feet. Even after three years together, the Disciples could not comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of his love but they were about to witness for themselves the greatness of this love and the power of his might. Everything they thought they knew about Jesus and his ministry was about to unravel.

Jesus loved his own who were in the world and he loved them to the end. Jesus loved them completely and to the full; to the extreme and uttermost. Jesus chose these Disciples to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth but these men were not just students, learning at the feet of a teacher, they were his friends. He loved them and knowing his love, they loved him in return. However, their love for him would be challenged by unforeseen circumstances.

John 13:3-5 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 

The Twelve: One knew he was a betrayer and had already put a plan of treason into action. Eleven knew they were not worthy but did not know the condition of their own hearts. For as much as they believed they loved Jesus and understood his teaching, their actions would surprise even themselves. Jesus, knowing his Disciples; knowing the one who would betray Him, and the eleven who would flee, washed their feet. Jesus knelt before them, washing the filthy feet of each one as though they were perfectly deserving of such kindness. Jesus’ lowly act of servanthood was uncomfortable for the forgetful disciples who would go on to have a conversation about who was the greatest among them. Jesus loved his own who were in the world and He loved them to the end.

Jesus had done for the Disciples what none of them thought to do for Jesus or for each other. He had washed their feet as a complete act of servant love; the greater love that lays itself down for another. Jesus, their Lord and Teacher had washed their feet with water. Jesus, the perfect, sacrificial Lamb of God, the one who had knelt before them, would die a criminal’s death on the cross, for the complete washing away and forgiveness of sin. (Philippians 2:6-8) Jesus loved his own who were in the world and he loved them to the end.

John 13:14-17 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

After having cleansed their feet and wiping them dry, Jesus gave them a “new” command. Not new in concept or theory but new in freshness and experience. These eleven men were about to experience deep grief and anguish of heart. Their love for Christ and love for one another would bring them back together.

Warren Weirsbe writes, “Love would take on a new meaning and power because of the death of Christ on the cross (John 15:13). With the coming of the Holy Spirit love would have new power in their lives.”

Consider the kindness and gentleness of Jesus as he has this last moment with his beloved friends, preparing them for the future and calling them to sacrificial love. They did not know exactly what he was calling them to at that moment, but they would come to live it out. Jesus’ lesson of selfless, servant love is speaking to you and to me. This love serves in humility, taking on the posture, position and heart attitude of a servant. This love lays down its own desires and interests for the good of others. This love thinks of others before, above and greater than itself.

Just as the Disciples could not know the future, we do not know what opportunities or events we may encounter on the path that the Lord has laid out for us. But know this, he’s calling us to that same fresh experience of love by setting aside our self-serving tendencies for the good and benefit of others. (John 3:18, 34; Philippians 3:2-8)

Jesus loved his own who were in the world and He loved them to the end. Just as he loved us we are to go and do likewise. As forgetful follower of Jesus, how does this day encourage you, by way of reminder, to love others to the end?

This is Love

The greatest gift came from the greatest love.

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For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.–John 3:16-17

In wisdom and out of the abundance of His great love, God, who is love, expressed his love for us by sending his one and only son to a world who would not recognize him. Fearing what they did not know, they killed him. But earthly power and judgment could not conquer heavenly power and resurrection love.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.–1 John 4:7-9

Christ was born for us among the animals without the honor due his name. Love was made manifest among us. He lived for us, teaching us his higher ways and modeling humility, wisdom, and gentleness. While we were yet in our most despicable state, he suffered and died for us (Romans 5:6-8); the sacrificial Lamb of God, without blemish or stain, was slain for our sin. In ultimate power and might, he rose in victory from the grave. Our kinsman-redeemer, delivered us from the power of sin and death. The greatest gift came from the greatest love.

As recipients of God’s love, let us, with grateful and humble hearts, bear with one another in love. As those who have been forgiven much, let us, without hesitation, forgive others and let the love of Christ dwell in us richly.

Interruption as Intervention

His daily rescue intercedes on our behalf fulfilling his plan and purpose. He does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. God’s intervention determines the direction of our lives like the landscape determines the course of a river.

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Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

I have made many plans in my life. Planning gives order to what would be a chaotic, aimless existence. How I hold those plans is determined by how I see myself in light of my view of God. When I believe I know what’s best, despite what God has in mind, I struggle accepting the changes that have derailed my plans. It is when I confess that I am little and God is big that I find peace with change. Knowing God is loving, faithful and trustworthy I am constrained to entrust myself to Him. I must choose to surrender to His will, submit to His authority, acknowledge His sovereignty and yield to His way. In this there is hope and peace.

The average day rarely goes as planned or imagined. Though my agenda keeps my life from complete chaos, even a well-planned day isn’t complete without changes, unexpected situations, countless interruptions and surprises. It’s not unusual to think my day is going in one direction only to find my plan detoured and redirected down another path. I have learned, through practice, to accept changes and to hold my schedule with an open hand. While my tendency is to resist change, a glitch in a day is hardly something to lose my peace over! Minor levels of resistance require regrouping and rethinking.

Sadly for those of us who want order and control in our lives, change and interruptions do not remain small or insignificant. Life has a way of not turning out as we’d imagined. Accidents happen, people disappoint, health declines, jobs are lost, people die. Suddenly, often without warning, the future looks very different than we had planned or pictured. The unknown future often seems bleak. Instead of a minor redirection, it’s more of a derailment or a shipwreck leaving us grieved, fearful, lost and perhaps angry and without direction or vision for the future. We tend to resist and push back against these unwelcome changes and all that they means for us.

Lot was such a man. Two angels, appearing as men, were sent to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to warn Lot and his family that the Lord was about to rain sulfur and fire down to destroy the cities. The angels urgently implored him to get his family out of the city and into the hills. Leaving would be more than abandoning his home. It meant a complete change of status, wealth and an unknown future. God’s consideration meant sacrifice for Lot and his loved ones. Their very real losses were God’s great mercy and kindness upon him and his family. This interruption was an intervention of rescue.

But Lot lingered. Instead of acting as a man leaving a burning building, he belabored perhaps pondering/processing what it would mean to stay or to leave. In keeping with the urgency of the situation, the angels seized him, his wife and two daughters and dragged them by the hands out of the city. As they were leaving they were told to escape for their lives and not to look back or stop anywhere in the valley.

Luke 17:32-33 Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to perserve his life will lose it and whoever loses his life will keep it.

Lot wasn’t the only one dragging his feet. Lot’s wife, who trailed behind him, looked back. As most commentators have stated, it wasn’t a mere glance over the shoulder but a regretful longing for what she’d left behind. Her treasures were earthly and therein her heart was found. And it was her heart, revealed in a disobedient look back, that betrayed her. She lost the life she desired to preserve and became a pillar of salt.

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

When God changes our plans He aligns our plans with His. Not only does he order the steps of the righteous but he protects them when they fall. He has them by the hand. (Psalm 37:23-24) His daily rescue intercedes on our behalf fulfilling his plan and purpose. He does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. God’s intervention determines the direction of our lives like the landscape determines the course of a river. God doesn’t mind inconveniencing us or interrupting our plans to meet our needs or the needs of others while revealing Himself and displaying His glory.

And so do not fear and do not lose heart. A change of plans, a life interrupted, is part of the good work our Lord is doing. He is perfect. His will and His ways are perfect. And great are His steadfast love and faithfulness toward you.