o Got unforgiveness?
o Simmering with resentment?
o Bitterness got your tongue?
o Boiling with anger?
Those listed are very real emotions that result from situations and/or from how other people can impact us. But let’s try this one on for size: Jesus, when faced with betrayal and hurt by those near and dear (Judas Iscariot and Peter) to him, loved them anyways. I don’t know about you, but I’ve felt betrayed before; I’ve been hurt by situations and the actions and/or attitudes of others. And if I’m being honest… love, understanding, forgiveness, and/or reconciliation were the furthest things from my mind. Many of those situations and people posed challenging for me to even consider forgiveness at the time. They led to feelings of resentment, bitterness, and anger, to say the least. Hurt does that, ya know? And it’s okay to feel that way as they are natural human emotions, BUT we shouldn’t allow those feelings to drive us. Being Christ-like is taking a page from God’s book. Ephesians 4:26-27 tells us to “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” Furthermore, we’re instructed in verses 31-32 to “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as Christ for God’s sake hath forgiven you.” It can be easier said than done, but not impossible…with God, right?! Right! When faced with hurt and betrayal, Jesus humbled Himself and washed His disciples' feet knowing what was to come…all for the greater good. That’s powerful, Church. And, Lord, am I grateful you did - What. A. GOD!!!
“And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." (John 13:2-20)
Jesus understood, loved, and walked in a greater purpose that held more meaning than feelings…wow! True humility. True love. It would take God to be able to do that!
"When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him." (John 13:21-32)
“Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice." (John 13:33-38)
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
That’s a GOOD God, yall! A GOOD GOD. And this is the God that emphasizes the importance of loving each other in this same manner:
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:34-35)
How shall people know that we are Jesus’ disciples? If we have love one toward another. If we love as Jesus loves. That kind of love requires forgiveness. It requires loving beyond ill-feelings. That kind of love is true love. Loving not only our family, friends, and people who love and care for us back. The love of Jesus helps us to love those that are hard to love…those that can do nothing for us…to love even our enemies. True love…Spiritual love…Selfless love…Agape love...Charity is of God. The same love we are wanting to receive, we are expected to give. LOVE is a two-way street. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me perfectly…for accepting me flaws and all…for helping me to receive that kind of love…and for teaching me to love you back and others. I've by no means perfected the craft, but glory to God, I'm growing in and with His love <3 Join us!
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
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