In this new text and study, Jesus gives us all a way to truly love all mankind, which is by serving them. First, we humble ourselves like Jesus did in the text, and serve them. No one should be so arrogant as to think it is beneath them to help or serve someone. If the Son of God served people, we should too. Later in chapter 13, Jesus gives a new command to love one another as he loved them. That would be how people would know that we belonged to Him, by how we loved each other. John would further this thought in First John. We truly love people when we serve them by helping them and meeting their needs. We show them we love them with our actions. We don't just say we love someone, we show them we love them with our actions, just like Jesus did.
John 13:1-17 NIV
[1] It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. [2] The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. [3] Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; [4] so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. [5] 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. [6] He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” [7] Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” [8] “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” [9] “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” [10] Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” [11] For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. [12] When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. [13] “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. [14] Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. [15] I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. [16] Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. [17] Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
John 13:34-35 NIV
[34] “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
So, now John tells us how to love them, which is by serving them, just like Jesus did. We lay down our lives for people and serve them, just like Jesus did. Friends, family, Church family, co-workers, strangers, and anyone else you can think of, this is how we "love" all people. This is how we know what love is. Look at this:
1 John 3:16-23 NIV
[16] This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. [17] If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? [18] Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. [19] This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: [20] If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. [21] Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God [22] and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. [23] And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
So, we can rest assured that when we love people by serving them and helping them, that we are doing what pleases God. We are showing people God exists as we love them with our good deeds and then they will glorify God because of it.
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV
[14] “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
So, we love people by laying down our lives for them, and by serving and helping them in whatever way we can. We do this with our actions. Then they will know we care about them and truly love them. They will experience the love of God through us. So awesome!!
Love you all dear readers,
Jeffrey Post
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