John 13-16
It was not unusual that Jesus would plan to celebrate Passover with His disciples. While we have no indication in the scripture, it is probably safe to assume that they had spent the last two Passovers together. A Jewish tradition observed every year, Passover provided an opportunity to teach the younger generations of the gift of life miraculously bestowed on the Israelites in captivity. It was a time of example and remembrance. But this Passover would be different. This would be the last time that Jesus would be alone with his disciples until after the resurrection. It was important for them to understand. Appropriately so, it would be here that Jesus would provide his followers with a picture of humility, obedience and love, proven through intercessory prayer and cradled in the essence of the bread and the wine.
Included in the rituals necessary that night were the utensils used for the customary foot washing. However, there was no servant present in the room to carry out the task. No disciple stepped forward to wash the feet of those gathered. Even when Peter refused to allow the Lord to wash his feet, he did not volunteer to take up the towel. Humility often carries a negative concept which creates a reluctance to lower oneself, to appear unimportant in the eyes of others. The inclination is to turn one’s head and pretend not to see the needs around us. Pride is a deceiver that misleads. Jesus wanted his disciples to see that humility is necessary for service and serving is what we have been called to do. To be humble, then, is to choose the better way. There is no task too minor, no opportunity so unimportant when it is motivated by love.
That night, Jesus reminded His disciples to love one another “even as I have loved you.” At the time, the disciples had no idea of the depth of love Jesus had for them. For this love could only be defined by the action it produced. It demanded sacrifice, birthed patience and breathed courage. It was based, Jesus said, on obedience. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” – commandments He had outlined during His ministry. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself - commandments so inclusive that no others were necessary when these were observed. “Love as I have loved.” Give God priority and have the attitude of God toward His creation. We love by honoring these commandments and in turn are lifted up, led by the Comforter. This identifies us as those who belong to Him.
Jesus prayed God’s protection that night for those who followed Him. He prayed for their enlightenment and for unity among the believers, that they might be one as He and the Father were one. Prayers for personal strength for what He would face in the coming hours would come later in the Garden. Now His concern was for those who had been with Him throughout His ministry, for their faith which would be tested and for their courage and vision in the days to come. It was a prayer of petition on behalf of His disciples and a prayer of victory for all believers. Jesus had taught His followers how to pray on their own behalf – for provision, forgiveness, protection. But in this instance, they would understand the importance of intercessory prayer. Jesus prayed for His disciples and for those of us who would come later. In this prayer, we see the power of love unfold.
And then, a reminder. Emblems, based on the Passover observance but also common to the daily rituals of life, would be symbolic of the sacrificial love of the Son and the redemptive power of the Father.” We, too, are called to remember. But it is not enough to only remember the sacrifice of the crucifixion. We must honor the commandments of the One Who gave His life so sacrificially. We are called to serve, to love and to pray. Do this,” He tells us, “in remembrance.”
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