The Greatest Calling

   It is one of the most dynamic chapters in the Bible.  It is filled with spiritual importance and rich emotion.  The reference is to John 13.

   Here we find Jesus and His disciples in that upper room the night He would be betrayed by Judas…denied by Peter…and abandoned by all His disciples.  Jesus had foreknowledge of all this when He performed a remarkable act of love (a prelude to a greater act of service yet to come on the cross).  Here we find Jesus washing the feet of all His disciples (vss.1-11).

   Following this humble action of compassion Jesus said, “You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set an example that you should do as I have done for you.”  (vss. 13-15).

   And Jesus went on to shift His focus to what was to come to pass within hours of this great act of love.  He predicted the betrayal by Judas…and Peter’s denial of Him -- “before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times” (vs.38)!

   Sandwiched between these two predictions, we find these powerful, pivotal words regarding the role of discipleship, “A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  ...