Session 4: Loving as We've Been Love

When do you find it most difficult to love others?

When do you find it the easiest?

If you are a follower of Jesus, how does this inform your efforts to love others?

We should love others because God loved us. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit demonstrate on what self-giving love towards others should look like.

John 13:1–5 ESV

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

John made sure to emphasize Jesus loved all. He loved from the beginning and to the end. He knew exactly what He was here on earth to do. He knew He would end up on the cross, dying for our sins.

Even with this knowledge, He took the time to show the disciples how they were supposed to serve others and each other.

By washing their feet, He was demonstrating how far He was willing to go to be their servant. He was doing a job which was reserved for servants who weren’t even part of the Jewish faith. It was considered one of the lowest positions to have in the household.

Jesus did this for them. He not only did it for the 11, He did it for the 12th who He knew was going to betray Him very soon.

How hard do you find it to love those who do not love you in return?

How does recognizing the way Christ has loved us help change your perspective on this?

John 13:6–16 ESV

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

By Jesus washing the feet of the disciples, He wasn’t giving up who He was as teacher and Lord, He was showing them how much He loved them through His actions. He was teaching them not only with His Words, but by the way He lived His life as well.

Think back over the past week, how have you served those you love?

Another thing we must learn as well is we must be served by Jesus. We must be cleansed by Him. There is nothing we can do to cleanse ourselves. Before we are cleansed from our sin by the blood of Christ, we are covered by the blight of it. We have to be cleansed by the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. Once again, remember He knew where He was heading when He was having this supper with His disciples.

If you had been a disciple with Jesus on that night, how would you have felt when He washed your feet?

What is a modern-day equivalent of washing feet that we could do to serve others today?

John 13:34–35 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

As I was reading this next section, it was a wow moment for me. I wish it was for a lot of other people within our church as well as others.

Many people use apologetics to defend the Christian faith. Jesus told us the only thing we need to show people is to show and demonstrate our love for each other.

Read John 13:35 again.

John 13:35 ESV

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

We aren’t going to be effective as a church until we can demonstrate this verse to each other.

We have to claim John 13:35 . When we truly do this as a church, we will be amazed at what is going to happen at Fairlawn.

Why is love of fellow believers a strong apologetic?

When have you seen a divided church turn people off to the gospel?

When have you seen people drawn into a church by their unity?

Some questions to think about this week.

Think of one way you can love another person selflessly this week and follow through on it.

Read John 13:34-35 every day this week and spend time praying through how Jesus is calling you to love others as He has loved you.

Is there anyone you know that might be opposed to you (as Judas was to Jesus)? Set aside time this week to pray for that person daily.