Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: John 13:1-17; 31-35 and Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19

In this beautiful passage from John 13, Jesus demonstrates to the disciples tangibly that He has come to establish a Kingdom of Love, and then He issues the call for His disciples to join Him in His ministry of love.

The opening verse says, “Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end.” The phrase “to the very end” (eis teilos in Greek) can also be translated “to the fullest extent, to the uttermost, or completely”. In fact some versions translate that part of the verse as, “He now showed them the full extent of his love.”

Every moment of the rest of Jesus’ life would be spent as a demonstration of the full extent of His love – not only for the disciples but also for us. The demonstration of love, which started here in the Upper Room on the last night of Jesus’ life on earth, would continue until He breathed His last breath out on the Cross.

What makes Jesus’ demonstration of love by washing the disciples’ feet so striking is that it was an utterly menial task reserved for the lowest servant. Years later the apostle Paul would write of Jesus in Colossians 1:15-17: “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together…” And here, in the Upper Room, the One in Whom all things hold together stoops to wash dirty, calloused, grimy human feet. What love is this!

As this dramatic enactment of His love comes to an end, Jesus calls on His disciples to learn the lesson. “A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (v.34)

We hear that call today too, coming from our Saviour and Lord – coming from the One Who is the “image of the invisible God”: “Love one another as I have loved you”. How will you obey that call today? Whom will you love tangibly today? Whom will you serve as Jesus served?

Lord of Love, You have loved me with such a perfect love! You have died for me. You have cleansed me of the guilt of all my sin. Help me to love others with Your holy love today. Empower me to offer practical service, kindness, compassion and care to others, in such a way as to demonstrate afresh that they are loved by You! Amen.