Intentional Love
“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love.” John 13:1 (NIV)
In dramatic fashion Jesus demonstrated what it means to love completely in John 13. Even before His death on the cross, the disciples would experience the full extent of His love. Despite knowing that He would be betrayed by one, denied by another and deserted by all His disciples, John tells us that Jesus loved them to the very end. To be known fully and loved completely is an uncommon love. It is an intentional love – God’s love.
John shows us what intentional love looks like in this chapter in a simple, yet unforgettable act of humble service. It was just before the Passover celebration when Jesus got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with His towel. This was the task of a household servant, not the master of the house. Seeing his Master and Lord behave like a common slave must have been more that Peter could accept. He still didn’t comprehend Jesus’ teaching on servant leadership. To be a leader, a person must be a servant. Jesus not only taught the importance of serving, He served. He demonstrated by His own actions what it means to serve others and the motivation it takes to do it – love. Here was the lesson:
“You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’ and you are right, because that is what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.” John 13:13-17 (NLT)
It’s so easy to get caught up with status and success. We all want to feel important and have others serve us, but Jesus demonstrates by example how we should relate to one another. In what ways can you serve others? If you love intentionally, the response of others will not dictate how you serve them.