Tuesday, April 1, 2025
It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end. The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God. So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him. John 13:1-5
It was the Thursday of the week leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus. We heard Pastor Jim talk about the tension Jesus felt in the garden that Thursday night and his choice to take the cup, to bear the sins of the whole world, so that we could find redemption and eternal life. Just before the scene in the garden, Jesus and his disciples had been in the upper room celebrating the Passover with a meal together – the last supper. Jesus gave the disciples a new command to love as he has loved. Right up to the time of His death - and in His death - Jesus was the living picture of true, pure, sacrificial love.
A New Commandment
As Jesus celebrated His final Passover meal with disciples, he washed their feet, a beautiful display of humility and servant leadership. As they sat together, Jesus rose from the table and began to wash their feet. Peter was uncomfortable with Jesus washing his dirty feet. But Jesus told Peter that unless he let Jesus wash his feet, he couldn’t be a part of His work. Jesus was setting an example for them as he began to give them his new commandment.
He instructed them to wash each other’s feet just as he has washed their feet. Jesus wasn’t just setting an example; He was telling them to be humble and serve one another. This is how He expected them to treat each other after He left, and how we as his disciples are to treat others. I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:16-17
The new commandment Jesus gave the disciples that night was… that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34 This command gave the disciples a new standard to measure themselves by, the way they loved others.
Jesus loved his disciples sacrificially, meeting their deepest needs in a way no one else could, by giving them forgiveness of sins and new life. He loved everyone that way, even His enemies. He commanded His disciples, and us, to love all the way He loved. That means those who we think don’t deserve it, those who are difficult to love, and those who are different than us. He loves us unconditionally, expecting nothing in return, and He expects us to love others that way as well. He gives us a choice we don’t deserve. We have the option of death as the wages of sin, (For the wages of sin is death… Romans 6:23a), or death to our self (sin) and eternal life in Him. (...but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23b) We only deserve death, but he loved us enough to gift us eternal life, if we choose to accept it.
Right up to the end of His life Jesus was setting the example of how we are supposed to live our lives and treat others. He showed us with his life that how we treat others will be more important than any other accomplishment we will ever achieve.
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another. John: 13:34-35
