Monday, January 16, 2006

Jesus demonstrates His love

In my readings of the life of Jesus in the Gospel books of the Bible, I just read that Jesus knows who is going to betray Him. Despite this knowledge, Jesus continues to treat Judas with respect and includes Him in the beginning of the Last Supper. Jesus tells His Disciples that He loves them and that they in turn can love one another. I believe He had Judas in mind. Even though the emotion of the betray is real for Jesus, Jesus demonstrates His love by washing the Disciples feet and challenging them to love Him. It is at this time also that Jesus tells Judas to go do what he needs to do and where Jesus informs Peter that Peter will betray Him three times despite Peter's fervent response to the contrary. At the end of the meal Jesus institutes the Bread and the Cup as a memorial ceremony to remember what Jesus would do on the cross in a few days. Jesus tells them that He loves them and wants them to demonstrate that love to one another. Jesus challenges them to serve one another in love. Wow! Jesus had to work through his emotions to do the right thing. You can do the right things just like Jesus.

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