"It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love."
~John 13:1
Today's Devotional Thought November 29, 2012 by Rachel Piferi
Love
Only one of the Gospels records the beautiful description of Jesus washing the disciple's feet. And there is no more fitting place to find this demonstration of love than the Gospel of John, written by the disciple whom Jesus loved.
As I read this story again recently, I was struck by the first verse of the chapter. I am not even sure I have ever paid attention to the introductory sentence before. I suppose I was always just so eager to get to the meat of the story. But when I read it again recently, God really impressed upon my heart the importance of that first verse and this poignant introduction to the very precious gesture he was about to perform.
John 13 opens this way: It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love (v. 1).
Don't you just love this introductory verse?
Jesus loved his disciples so much in his time with them. He showed them his love through teaching them, strengthening them with truth, and patiently molding them for what was coming. He was their model for how to instruct and guide others later. Even in his last hours, Jesus was showing his love for his closest friends.
And, in the last part of verse 1, we see that Jesus was about to show them the full extent of his love.
On his knees.
On the floor in front of each one of them.
Humbling himself.
Serving them.
Washing their feet.
In this beautiful demonstration of service, we see the full extent of Jesus' love for us. And we get a perfect picture of how we should love others. Selflessly. Humbly. Kneeling in vulnerable submission to another's needs.
In Jesus' last moments on this Earth, he was still demonstrating selfless love through servant hood. And through this humble gesture was teaching us how to fully love.
Foot washing is not nearly as common today (or as necessary) as it was thousands of years ago. But, there are many other ways that we can humbly serve others. Many ways that we can show others the full extent of Jesus' love.
I want to close today with a video that has greatly impacted my heart. It is a story that Beth Moore shares that demonstrates how Jesus prods us to show others his selfless love. I encourage you to watch it - it will touch your heart and show you how we can show the full extent of Jesus' love to others by getting on our knees in front of another person and serving them.
Enjoy and may God reveal to you ways that you can show others the full extent of Jesus love today.
Memorize this verse today:
"It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love."
~John 13:1
December