The scene shifts from the public forum to an intimate dinner with his closest friends. With the cross mere hours away, Jesus begins preparing his disciples for his departure with a series of ethical lessons.
Read John 13.
Like he does often in John's gospel, Jesus uses an object lesson to communicate a principle. This time, the principle he wants to communicate is Christ-like love.
"I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (13:34-35)
His means of communicating the principle: washing the disciples' feet.
"So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you." (13:14-15)
To Jesus, service is the language of love. Love is not an undefined, ethereal, or vexing emotion. It is grounded in self-sacrifice and loyalty. Truly, if this brotherly love is supposed to be the proof that one is a disciple of Christ, the acts of love have to be observable!
We all have people in our lives whom we love. Today, in the spirit of the Lent season, let's go out of our way to specifically and tangibly love one of these (or more!) in a special way.
Starter Prayer:
Jesus,
Thank you for your example of service and love.
You served nobly on earth, and even more so on the cross.
May your sacrifice motivate my own today.
May I lose my life and give it to others, and to you.
May those around me know and see my love for them.
For your glory!
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Join fellow Christ-followers in prayer and fasting during Lent (February 13 through March 31, 2013). Use the "prayer starters" each day and feel free to click "comments" to see how others are doing and share your own journey.
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What is "Lent?"
"Lent" has been celebrated by Christians for many generations. It is a time set aside for preparing our hearts to celebrate the greatest event in history - the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Traditionally Lent is the forty-day period preceding Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. Interestingly, this is actually 46 days because the western church doesn't count Sundays (as we are to celebrate the resurrection every Sunday).
How should I keep Lent?
We are asking the church family to spend time in prayer each day of Lent, thanking Christ for what He has done. In addition, many Christians practice some form of fasting during Lent.
What is "fasting?"
Fasting is a way to say "no" to self and to give renewed attention on Christ. If we simply do without food, we're only half-way there. We need to replace the time that we would have spent eating and instead spend that time in prayer.
Here are some ideas, but don't be limited to these:
Take 15 minutes out of each day reading the devotional on this blog and getting on your knees to pray to God.
Agree together in your Connection Group how you are going to celebrate Lent. Encourage each other to take a step of faith and talk each week about how it is going.
Take one meal a week and decide to deny yourself, spending the time, instead, reading the Word and praying. Maybe your Connection Group could divide up the lunches through the week - each taking a day. Or maybe you could each pick one day per week that you will all do it.
Fast from a specific food for the whole Lent season. Make it something that will trigger you to pray each time you reach for it. Don't "fast" from food to lose weight or from caffeine for your health. Those may be good ideas, but that is something you're doing for you, not with Christ in mind.
Fast from sunrise until sunset.
Fast from TV or something else that you'll give up and replace with seeking God.
Now get creative and talk with the other Christ-followers in your life for help, encouragement, and accountability ... and to share your joy!
Should I consider an extended fast?
For some, the season of Lent can be a time to surrender even more to God through an extended fast. This can be a 3, 7, 14, or 40 day experience (it is up to you and your readiness). If this is something that God is calling you toward, check out this site to learn more:
http://www.ccci.org/growth/growing-closer-to-god/how-to-fast/index.aspx
There are all types of extended fasts that you can get involved in. Make sure you choose the right one for you, considering your health, schedule, and support system.
Lord,
ReplyDeleteHelp me to spend time both in prayer and service to those I love in demonstrating my loyalty and attentiveness to their needs and my humility in having no one but God to trun in addressing their maturity and faith in Jesus.
Father, You "loved them to the end." You left this world with an example of humility and grace by washing the disciples feet. Thank You for being a beautiful example of what love is.
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