Boyd's Commentary. R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
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Название: Boyd's Commentary
Автор: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Религия: прочее
isbn: 9781681677590
isbn:
After the departure of Judas, Jesus gave His farewell speech to the remaining disciples. He instructed them to maintain the kind of community that exemplified His character in His absence. Jesus gave them a new command to love one another as He had loved them. Jesus assured them that by showing love for one another, all would know that in the absence of Jesus’ physical presence, His disciples were a reminder that He’s always near.
It is important to note this new commandment was not new in some ways. The Shema of the Old Testament commanded Yahweh’s people to love the Lord your God and to love your neighbor. This command was new not so much through the words but in its birth and application. The command to love one another as a distinctive mark for the community of believers is to be a derivative and reflection of the love shared between the Father and Son and also their love for the world. It is in recognition of that love that believers are commanded to love each other. Therefore, it is a modeling of the bestowal of divine love on us.
Secondly, as a new command, it is to be birthed from love both divine and human. Through divine love, God calls believers together through His sacrifice of His beloved Son, for God gave His Son for the world (3:16). Even as God gave His Son, the Son also willingly was given (15:13). Therefore believers or disciples are to be given to this same level of commitment and covenant in their gathering. The community’s continued gathering in love and through love points back to God’s extravagant love for humanity. This is to be the identifying mark of the Church. It is love.
THE LESSON APPLIED
To be ruled by love is to be governed by the heart, a heart that has surrendered to the will of God. Love is the fuel that directs our actions toward serving God and God’s people, which is why the love we show can be measured by the service we render. This is the primary message Jesus was stressing with His disciples. If their love and respect for Him was sincere, then Jesus’ example of serving them by taking on the role of a servant and washing their feet would serve as the model they were to follow upon His departure from them.
Jesus’ example for the disciples is ours as well. As believers we are to lead the world in service, kindness, and justice. In doing so, we confirm God’s presence through the expressions of our love. The more matured our growth in God, the more humbled we ought to be in our willingness to serve God’s people.
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT
Are there consequences to service?
Jesus washed His disciples feet even as He realized there are consequences to service. Even as Peter abandoned his position that Jesus would never wash his feet, Peter did not fully understand that service at a certain level may demand more of us than we want to give. Foot washing is not commanded by Scripture; however, following Jesus’ lead of service is very much a part of the dutiful Christian’s journey. Service as shown here can be both humbling and humiliating. Whereas we lift up this example as the perfect example, often we are faced with the dilemma to choose rank or humiliation. We often choose wrongly because we do not want to appear to be less than we are. Once there was a youth pastor who was charged with leading a community cleanup for his church. On the day of the cleanup, a good number of members showed up ready to work. They began to walk through the neighborhood picking up trash. One of the people who showed up was the senior pastor. Noticing his pastor leading the charge, the youth pastor walked up to him and said, “Pastor, thank you for coming out here with us today. Not many pastors would volunteer to pick up trash.” The senior pastor responded, “It’s all about your theology.” In other words, if you believe a task is beneath you, you will be humiliated by performing it, but if you know who you are, there is no task too low. Jesus knew who He was and His purpose. So should you!
HOME DAILY DEVOTIONAL READINGS
NOVEMBER 2–8, 2020
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