Oh How I Love Thee! (#3)

God looks upon us -- “How do I love you? Let me help you count the ways.”

In so many marvelous ways Jesus’ walk on earth presented a living illustration of God’s love. When we think of Jesus’ great expression of love we most often think of His death on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins. Yet John pointed to another act of Jesus which revealed His great love.

We read…
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, HE LOVED THEM TO THE END.” ( John 13:1 ESV)

The New International Version reads, “HE NOW SHOWED THEM THE FULL EXTENT OF HIS LOVE.”

Did John then go on to describe Jesus’ death on our behalf? No! Did John record Jesus empowering the disciples to be able to do all things? No! Did Jesus heal them of every infirmity they may have had? No! Read on to see how Jesus showed His great and practical love.

“(3) Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, (4) rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. (5) Then he poured water into a basin and BEGAN TO WASH THE DISCIPLES’ FEET and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” ( John 13:3-5 ESV)

Foot washing? That was the means of showing His great love? Some translations bring out the idea Jesus loved them to the end or loved them into completion. The idea seems to be that Jesus showed His love to the disciples in every encounter He had with them. The greatest love is not always revealed in what we might consider the greatest and most monumental events, but is displayed in its genuineness through meeting the every day needs. When love is the basis of a relationship it is love which compels every action regardless of how big or small it may seem. God’s love was illustrated through Jesus’ willingness to serve and meet needs on any level. God’s love is what prompts Him to serve our every need. Through serving to meet our needs God has displayed the full extent of His great love.

Have a great day knowing the FULL EXTENT of God’s love!
Carl

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[This focus was originally sent 07/15/1999 (Edited some with passages changed to ESV)]

See other teEn-MAIL on Love