We talked in our Bible study yesterday about Christ's deep love for us. His love is unmatched. He loves us so much that He died for us. His love is so deep and so great that it changes us. Not only does it change us, but it also changes how we treat other people. In fact, Jesus told His disciples that the way He loved and served them was an example for them of how to love and serve the people around them.
Throughout His early ministry, Jesus demonstrated love for His disciples. He called them out of their mundane, routine lives and invited them to follow Him. He taught them. He served them. As His time with them on earth was coming to an end, He explained to them that His love was an example for them of how to love each other and the people around them. He explained to them, "I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other" (verse 34). Just like Jesus loved His disciples, they were to love others. This commandment from Jesus to His disciples to love each other as He had loved them begs the question, "How did Jesus love them?" Jesus loved His disciples sacrificially. He served them and washed their feet in a culture where no self-respecting Jewish rabbi would wash anyone's feet. Ultimately, He laid His life down for their sins (and the sins of the world). This kind of sacrificial love is the kind of love that Jesus wanted them to demonstrate. This kind of love makes all of the difference. It points the world straight to Jesus, who showed us the ultimate example of love.
Just like Jesus called His disciples to love others, He calls you and me to love the people around us. He calls us to follow His example of sacrificial, unconditional love for the people in our lives. As we model His love, we will point the people around us to the greatest love of all: the love of Christ.
How can you love the people well around you today? Can you take your coworker a coffee? Can you clean the kitchen even though your spouse is expecting to take on that responsibility today? Can you take your child out to spend uninterrupted, quality time with them, putting aside the to-do list to show them love? Whatever it looks like for you, take time to love the people around you today.
18 “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’19 I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah. 20 I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”
21 Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”
22 The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. 23 The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” 25 So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27 When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” 28 None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. 29 Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. 30 So Judas left at once, going out into the night.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. 33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
36 Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”
And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”
37 “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”
38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.
