EPISODE 24 – LOVE ONE ANOTHER 2; JESUS OUR PATTERN 1 (A New Commandment 3)
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Wednesday 15th February, 2023
LOVE ONE ANOTHER 2: JESUS OUR PATTERN 1 (A New Commandment 3)
” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
About 13 times in the New Testament of the Bible, we see the phrase “love one another”.
And that reveals the importance of this commandment. How we love one another is what makes others know we are disciples of Jesus. (Johm 13:35)
The newness of this commandment of Jesus, is Himself. Jesus didn’t just give us His command to love one another. He made Himself the pattern and supply of that commandment.
We are not to love one another by how we love ourselves. We love one another according to the portrait of Jesus.
“This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you” John 15:12 (ISV)
What is the extent of Jesus’s love for us? How has he loved us?
Love is not just an utterance, love is a walk.
“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 John 3:18 (NLT)
Love is a life-lived or an action. Love is not suppositious or conjectured. Love is demonstrated and experienced.
Understand that love is more than a feeling. To love is to serve.
Today lets begin to look at some practical ways Jesus demonstrated His love of service for us:
Before Jesus gave the new commandment in John 13:34, look at what happened in the earlier verses:
“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end… Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded…
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”
(John 13:1,3-5;12-17)
From these verses, we realise, there is no room to guess what Jesus meant by “as I have loved you” in John 13:34.
He has showed us the clear example of what we should do in verse 15;
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
What did Jesus really do?
He served His disciples by washing their feet.
Feet washing is an art of hospitality among the Israelites.
Most oriental people, which includes the Israelites, wore sandals instead of shoes, in the past times, and as they usually went barefoot in the house, frequent washing of the feet was a necessity. Hence among the Israelites, it was the first duty of the host to give his guest water for the washing of his feet. To omit this was a mark of unfriendliness. This was done either by the wife or the servants.
Mostly, its done before meals.
(See Genesis 18:4; Genesis 19:2, Genesis 24:32; Genesis 43:24).
This is a symbol of honour, service and humility for one another.
We love one another by serving one another with that which God has given us. And that was what Jesus showed His disciples.
“Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor]” 1 Peter 4:10 (Amplified Bible).
Beloved, are you in pursuit of your own interest?
Or you are in pursuit of serving the brethren?
As Christ has loved you, serve one another.
Shalom
DIG DEEPER
(1 John 4:20; 1 Peter 4:10-11; Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:1-11)
WE PRAY
That we enjoy abundance of grace to relentlessly love the saints by serving them in humility and honour.
BIBLE READING IN THE YEAR 2023
Day 16: Genesis 12-15
DECLARE THESE WORDS:
I serve the saints in love. I am an example of the love of Christ to others. I love with ease because Christ is the supply of my love. I refuse to be selfish. I am committed to serving others in humility.
Hallelujah!!!
Today’s devotional is really touching. What an example of love and humility in service Christ has taught us. Thank you father for Grace to walk in practical love
I’m so blessed by this message. God bless you man of God for helping me understand the purpose of the washing of one another’s feet better. It’s about love! Yea, it’s about loving by action. Loving by serving one another.
Hallelujah!
I am committed to serving others in Humility!!
Thank you Lord Jesus!!!
Oh Hallelujah, I am committed to serving others in humility
We love one another by serving one another with that which God has given us. Hallelujah!
I am committed to serving others in humility
I serve the brethren
[…] intentions and thought patterns, look at Jesus.Our Lord Jesus brings us the perfect picture of God’s love.Man lost the true picture of God and failed to see God in His true essence and expression.Jesus […]
I refuse to be selfish.
I love with ease because Christ is the supply of my love.