The passage I read was John 13:21-35
You can find that passage here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13:21-35&version=NIV
My summary of the passage is this:
Jesus is at what is referred to as the final supper and He (by means of handing a piece of bread to him) points out who His betrayer will be and then sends him to do what must be done. Jesus then speaks of His glorification to come on the cross and reveals He will be leaving soon. In light of His soon departure, He leaves His disciples (and us) with the new command to Love one another as He has loved us.
As I reflect:
First, I noted how awesome it is to have a close relationship with Jesus. I was thinking about His beloved and how even with 10 other people in the room that had discipled with Jesus for the long run, Peter still looked and motioned to the “most beloved” of Jesus’ disciples and asked him to ask Jesus who he was talking about. I wonder if Jesus smirked at all at that point… I mean you could have just asked Jesus yourself Peter. I’m not so sure that is part of a reflection to grow on but still kinda interesting dynamic in the room. I mean how nice to have been John and been the most beloved of Jesus. Wow!
Some notes on the passage:
Jesus knew who His betrayer was and thus also by indicating this was saying that what was to occur was not a surprise in any way. Jesus knew and could have stopped or avoided it completely but instead entered willingly into what would be the beginning of the last hours of His physical life here. Not only that, but He showed His betrayer love and gave him multiple chances to repent. This betrayer; this enemy of God had earlier this same evening had his feet cleansed by the Lord as an example of sacrificial love. And then in this passage He is given the chance to repent as Jesus offers him the dipped bread (equivocated often at that time to a toast in one’s honor). Judas was an enemy of God and yet Jesus loved Him and treated Him well knowing what his intentions where. Wow! What an example for us also to love even our enemies.
Jesus then makes plain the greatest shock of the disciples last 3 years of life (since they were called to drop everything and follow Him). He tells them He is leaving and they cannot come with. He of course is speaking about going home to Heaven and later goes on to rebuke their doubts and fears and explain that the Holy Spirit will be an even greater helper to them. Talk about mood breaker though. Wow. That had to be rather intense to hear.
As I reflect on this passage, the daily application that comes to mind is to live more sacrificially (less of “mine mine mine” and more of “how may I help you”), and love even my enemies. This is a most difficult thing to do, but I understand why it is a must to be forgiving and loving of those “undeserving”…. Because once upon a time that was me and Jesus was and has been since loving and forgiving to me.
My response to the Lord:
Father, as I grow in intimacy with you I am continually humbled and overwhelmed by the love and compassion that you have and share. That Jesus loved even His enemies so much that He be willing to wash their feet and offer them uplifting amongst others and then go to a cross to die for them…. I don’t know quite how to respond to that. I mean, I know that I am to follow after Jesus and I do desire to do just that. I don’t find this same loving of my enemies character in me though. I usually forgive them and then I struggle sometimes in asking you to forgive them and bless them too. But love? Father, I pray that you would help me to remember that you loved me while I was yet a sinner and that by your Holy Spirit working in me I can learn to love my enemies by seeing them as you saw me. I know that you can mold me to be more loving and I pray that you would do this that I may more accurately reflect your Son, in Whose name I pray. Amen.
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