24 Series Devotionals - Day 4

A New Way to Love

Certainly, the idea of loving one’s neighbor is not a recent idea.  Examples:

• All the way back in Leviticus (the third book in the Bible), chapter 19, verse 18, the Bible says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Jesus quoted that verse as the second greatest commandment, behind “loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.”
• James, the leader of the Jerusalem council and probably the brother of Christ, called loving your neighbor “the royal law.”  (James 2:8)
• In John’s letter (same author as the Gospel of John, but written at a different time) says, “Beloved, let us love one another for love is from God.” (1 John 4:7).
• The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Christians in Rome, “Love is the fulfillment of the law.”  (Romans 13:10)

The world does not know a love like this.  The world spells love L-U-S-T!  The world loves the attractive and self-indulging.  Jesus showed them - and us - a new love.  He loved them - and us - so much that he endured the cross.  He said, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13).

On this night, less than 24 hours from the cross, Jesus modeled this new commandment with two object lessons.  He washed the disciples feet and he fellowshipped with Judas, his betrayer.

Could we ever do the same….wash a neighbor’s feet and have dinner with someone we knew was going to betray us within a few hours?