Bearing the Glory of Christ Through Love for One Another
John 13:1-20
The passage of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples is known by all Christians. We share in the glory of Jesus because of his victory on the cross. We share this same glory of God by striving to live a righteous life and sharing the good news as witnesses.
We are also called to love one another and serve one another. Jesus demonstrated this lifestyle in the action of washing their feet. In the narrative, Jesus is at the eve on his last day on Earth. This is a crucial meal.
Many leaders who are departing, typically leave some parting words and wisdom. They want to leave a message as how they hope their followers will carry on.
In Jesus' last days, he brought those he loved closer to him. His command was to love one another. Jesus demonstrates this love symbolically by washing the disciples' feet.
Why did Jesus wash their feet and not some other part? In Greco Roman society, feet washing was a part of the culture. This foot washing was done by slaves or servants. The person of higher status would never wash a person of lower status feet. It was common to have someone else wash your feet, but it was strange was that a person of senior status wash a lower person's feet. Moreover, Slaves and servants could be punished for not following the protocol of washing a master's feet.
We understand that the last supper was done in a private house and probably there were servants who could have washed the disciples' feet. Yet Jesus had to teach a lesson of humility. Jesus chose to wash their feet to demonstrate the humbling act needed to do God's will.
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.
John 13:3-5 ESV
We read here that Jesus knew what was going to happen and He had also the authority over all things. The disciples had to understand what Jesus would do on the cross. Jesus had to humble himself to do God's will. Paul writes about how much Jesus had to humble himself in Philippians 2.
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:6-8 ESV
As Christians, we need to understand that we were brought into his calling even though we did not deserve this. We also need to understand that even in the body of Christ, we still do not understand how much we do not deserve his love and salvation.
Jesus message in John 13 is for His followers and not the world. This is a call to understand that Jesus was poured out to bring us into the family. We are also called to love one another to bring the glory of God.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35 ESV
Jesus knew that to keep our faith and to live with other Christians would not be easy. This is why he calls on us to take care of one another. We need support, and our best support comes from each other. Jesus knew that differences would happen among ourselves.
A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
Luke 22:24 ESV
Indeed, the disciples started to fight among each other over who was going to be the greatest on Jesus' last day, yrt Jesus had a solution. Jesus calls us to patiently endure one another because he knew differences and our arrogance would tear us apart.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35 ESV
Christ wanted us to be known for our love for one another and our identity with Christ. We are called to imitate Christ through loving one another; however, this is impossible unless we understand and accept what Jesus has sacrificed for us when we did not deserve this love.
We are also called to love one another and serve one another. Jesus demonstrated this lifestyle in the action of washing their feet. In the narrative, Jesus is at the eve on his last day on Earth. This is a crucial meal.
Many leaders who are departing, typically leave some parting words and wisdom. They want to leave a message as how they hope their followers will carry on.
In Jesus' last days, he brought those he loved closer to him. His command was to love one another. Jesus demonstrates this love symbolically by washing the disciples' feet.
Why did Jesus wash their feet and not some other part? In Greco Roman society, feet washing was a part of the culture. This foot washing was done by slaves or servants. The person of higher status would never wash a person of lower status feet. It was common to have someone else wash your feet, but it was strange was that a person of senior status wash a lower person's feet. Moreover, Slaves and servants could be punished for not following the protocol of washing a master's feet.
We understand that the last supper was done in a private house and probably there were servants who could have washed the disciples' feet. Yet Jesus had to teach a lesson of humility. Jesus chose to wash their feet to demonstrate the humbling act needed to do God's will.
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.
John 13:3-5 ESV
We read here that Jesus knew what was going to happen and He had also the authority over all things. The disciples had to understand what Jesus would do on the cross. Jesus had to humble himself to do God's will. Paul writes about how much Jesus had to humble himself in Philippians 2.
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:6-8 ESV
As Christians, we need to understand that we were brought into his calling even though we did not deserve this. We also need to understand that even in the body of Christ, we still do not understand how much we do not deserve his love and salvation.
Jesus message in John 13 is for His followers and not the world. This is a call to understand that Jesus was poured out to bring us into the family. We are also called to love one another to bring the glory of God.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35 ESV
Jesus knew that to keep our faith and to live with other Christians would not be easy. This is why he calls on us to take care of one another. We need support, and our best support comes from each other. Jesus knew that differences would happen among ourselves.
A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
Luke 22:24 ESV
Indeed, the disciples started to fight among each other over who was going to be the greatest on Jesus' last day, yrt Jesus had a solution. Jesus calls us to patiently endure one another because he knew differences and our arrogance would tear us apart.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35 ESV
Christ wanted us to be known for our love for one another and our identity with Christ. We are called to imitate Christ through loving one another; however, this is impossible unless we understand and accept what Jesus has sacrificed for us when we did not deserve this love.
Let us love one another so that Jesus will be glorified and we can share in that glory.
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