When I first came up with this topic, i was looking forward to understanding a little more on how Jesus loves us, and how that translates to our own love. I mean, growing up in the west, love is displayed by flowers, romance, and someone that understands you and would give the world for you.
And so people grow up longing for this kind of love, and when they’re disappointed by their lovers, they depart disillusioned and depressed.
There’s this amazing passage, John 13:1-16, which we normally don’t associate with love. And especially on how we are called to love.
It’s the passage about Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.
“so he [Jesus] got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
And so we discover that love, or the kind of love that Jesus demonstrates, starts with humility.
It’s difficult isn’t it? I mean, for the most part, the kind of love that i yearn for, is the kind that meets my needs. And as much as I will give love, there’s this desire for that same love to be given in return. And it’s when that “love” isn’t returned, there’s frustration and disappointment.
With Jesus we discover this selflessness – this humility – which seems almost supernatural. That someone of his stature, presence, position, authority, wisdom – would stoop to do the job of a servant! I mean, the same man who calmed the storms, reach out to wash his students feet! How remarkable is that?
There’s a yearning in my heart to become more selfless in my love. To be someone who gives without expecting return. To share without reservation.
I suppose that’s what Jesus means when he says love your enemies. Love those who persecute you. Life is not all about me. It is not all about what I receive.
In fact, true love, pure love, complete love, is known fully through God – Father, Son & Holy Spirit. And the pursuit and capture of love will not be found in your spouse, or children, or friends – but that love begins with knowing God and his love.
Two passages to meditate on for the rest of the week-
1 John 4:7-12 says
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
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John 13:14-15
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
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This was the second of our series on Issues of the Heart. You can find the entire series at the BCEC Sermon Page or listen to last week’s sermons directly – Anger.