The issue of LOVE is front and center in the Bible.

Yet, what is love?

It’s one of the most sung about and written about subjects in life, and still there is MASS confusion. Even the Beatles sang, “All You Need Is Love” but then they broke up.

Recorded in John 13:34 Jesus commanded that we love one another in a very specific way saying, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”Then Jesus said, “This is how you will know my disciples by the love they have for one another.” Both of remarks came after Jesus had just washed the disciples feet in the upper room. Was Jesus saying, “You’ll know my disciples because they will wash each others feet?” I don’t believe so. But rather the washing of feet by nature provides a window into what love is.

In Middle Eastern culture foot washing was needed in every home. The streets were dusty, dirty, littered with garbage even the waste of animals. The common shoes of the day were sandals. So, you can imagine what feet would look like at the end of the day. And, generally, the host, or a servant, or even a slave would assume the role of washing feet in a home. However, when Jesus had the Passover meal with the disciples, there was no “formal host” So, who stepped up and washed feet? Jesus!

The passage reveals very important insights to the nature of God’s love. Enjoy. And today, with the help of the Holy Spirit, choose to love like the Lord Jesus Christ.

(1) Love seizes non-scheduled opportunities to extend compassion and grace (Vs. 4)

(2) It leaves one’s comfort zone and becomes vulnerable (Vs.4)

(3) It’s others oriented. It’s lives out the priorities of: Jesus, Others, You (Vs. 4)

(4) A Christian’s CORE-identity is that of a servant of God (Vs. 4; 12-17)

(5) Love is a healing power, like water that cleanses and gives life.

Love …