April 1

Date: Wednesday, April 1

Read: John 13:1-17

Devotion:

John 13:1

  …He now showed them the full extent of his love.  

For the past 3 years Jesus had been showing his disciples what his love was like.

They had seen Jesus:

    Heal the sick, lame, deaf, and blind.

    Bring people back to life.

    Withdraw from the crowds to be with them exclusively.    

They had heard Jesus:

    Teach so powerfully it pierced their hearts.

    Describe His great love for them in detail.   

    Equate them to his family.

He had been showing them His love for 3 straight years.

NOW – it would be so plain it would be like an anvil dropped on the head.

NOW – he would show them the full extent of his LOVE.

The FULL EXTENT.

The last week of Jesus life is a tribute to the scope, the breadth, and extent of his love.  Every action, every word, in this span of seven short days was drenched with the relentless fury of his limitless and unending love.  

How far does this love go?

It’s Thursday night.  Jesus will be nailed to a cross in the morning, just a few hours from then.   

Hours before denial and rejection, Jesus displays affirmation and acceptance.

    Hours before painful scourging, Jesus applies tender touch

             Hours before mocking, Jesus uses compassionate words

Hours before nails would be in Jesus’ hands and feet, healing water ran through his fingertips; his feet were bent forward at the toes as he knelt before each man

Apparently there is silence.  Perhaps it was stunned silence.

Until, predictably, Jesus makes his way to Peter.

“No!”

Peter wanted to receive Jesus’ love on his own terms.

-       “You will never wash my feet.”

-       “Well, alright, then my hands and head too!”

Both are responses of one who wants to dictate the events.  Jesus offers His love to us on His own terms, not on ours.  He gives us an offer.

“I am ready to be a servant to you – to do for you what no one else would do, or could do.  Will you receive it?”

Reflect:  

• Have I perhaps been dictating to Jesus how I want Him to display his love to me? 
• What would it look like today for me to receive His love the way in which He is giving it?

Prayer:

“Lord, I am ready for you to love me with the full extent of your love.  Cleanse me of all pride that stands in the way of me receiving your humble, loving, servanthood on my behalf.”