ETW John 13:1-17 What is ‘true’ love? Don’t we all want to have ‘true’ love? In our passage today, we will see it. In verse 1, John tells us that Jesus knew his earthly mission was nearly done. “Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.” The term for love here is ‘agapao’ which means to esteem, cherish, favor, honor, respect, accept, prize, relish and to be devoted to. What does it mean that he showed them the full extent of his love? Another version says, ‘he loved them to the end’. In the Greek, the indication is that Jesus has loved them all along and that he will demonstrate that love in some act that will be the completion, end and fulfillment of a divine plan. When the terms are taken in context, they indicate an act that happens soon but that has perpetual, continual consequences. So what does Jesus do in our story today? He washes their feet. Why? Jesus tells them in verse 10 that they are all clean but one. Clean here is the Greek term katharos meaning pure, clear from the pollution and guilt of sin. Perhaps Jesus is telling them that their hearts are already his but daily dirt from the world needs to be cleaned off regularly. He used the picture of foot washing to emphasize this. Also, he wanted them to catch that he would not only humble himself to wash feet, but to die for them. That was a much greater sacrifice but it was necessary to complete the divine plan of God. So what is love? Jesus love gives, serves, favors and cherishes each other. It is devoted to others. Look at vs. 17. “Now that you know these things you will be blessed if you do them.” That’s a promise. (II Corinthians 5:21)
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 14:32:01 +0000