Jesus' Love was a Spontaneous Love

During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, *got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.  So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”  Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” John 13:2-4 ;6-9

This particular passage of scripture was just before the Passover, the first meal eaten with the Lord’s Supper.  We get a very good look at the true nature of Jesus and His love in these verses.  This is a perfect example of Christ’s love for us to model our lives after.

Jesus' Love was a Spontaneous Love …got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. John 13:4

Love "reacts" more often than it acts.  It is spontaneous in its expression.  Sensitivity to need over ritual assists worship. Jesus did not wait for a proper time. Spontaneity is fundamental to worship that people feel is exciting.  Is there room for God to move a new direction in worship?

Jesus loved them in an unexpected way. Normally a master does not serve his disciples. No one at the table "expected" Jesus to wash their feet. That's what love does.  Love does what no one expects to be done for them. He didn't have to get down on His knees and wash the disciples' feet.  But He did it. He did it because he loved them and he wanted to express and show His love for them. He did it to show them how they were to love. Luke 6:32 says "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. At best we place conditions on our love:

• I will love you as long as you love me.
• I will love you as long as it is convenient for me
• I will love you as long as you give me something in return
• I will love you as long as you do what I say

Jesus loved the unsuspecting sinner - …showed them the full extent of His love.
This simple and yet profound act would touch for the rest of their lives. He exampled true love by loving his enemies.  Luke 6:27 says But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…He is not asking anything of us that He wouldn’t do Himself. This is not to say condone or accept everything everybody has done or is doing, but to love them regardless. Even though He is the Son of God, it had to be hard to serve and show the full extent of His love to Judas when He knew Judas would betray him soon, but He did it anyway.

To fail to humble ourselves to serve men is to fail to humble ourselves to God. Too many churches are made up of those who joined to get THEIR needs met and have continued to sit back and receive.  Christian fellowship is in serving together, not sitting together.  As we grow together and prepare our hearts for service the mind of Christ will lead us to accomplish the work of Christ.

Scripture to Claim:
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8