It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. John 13:1
Before Jesus is betrayed, arrested, tried, scourged and crucified, he has some extended interaction with his disciples. One of key features of their time together on his last night with them is how often Jesus uses the word ‘love’. He was secure in his loving relationship with his Father, and knew that he would return to the Father.
Out of this safe place of knowing he was deeply loved by the Father, Jesus was able to show the full extent of his love to his disciples by first washing their feet as a servant would.
His identity was not threatened by such an act, nor was he swayed by the coming betrayal of Judas, the misplaced protests of Peter or the suffering ahead of him.
If you are not able to love others ‘to the end’, perhaps the remedy is to first turn to the Father and ask him to reveal to you how profoundly he loves you.
Let's Pray...
that you will be able to appreciate Father’s love for you and be secure in your identity as a child of His
from a place of security, pray that you will have grace to forgive the human failings of others