May it be able to be said of us that we loved to the end. Jesus will love these disciples of His to the end. They are the ones who will abandon Him at His arrest. They include Peter, who is about to deny knowing Him, and Judas, who will betray Him to His death. He loved them. He washed Judas’ feet while it was in his heart to betray Jesus. He washed their feet when He was their Master and Creator and as Ruler of the Universe.

We are not greater than Jesus who came to serve all. We are servants. We are not our own. We don’t live for ourselves. Jesus bought us at the price of His life and we live for Him (2 Cor.6:19-20, 5:15).

How do we live for Jesus? We love each other. Jesus doesn’t ask for love and undying devotion for Himself, though we are to give it. In this scene, the very last teaching He will give His disciples before He dies, He tells them to love each other.

The example Jesus gave them showed them how to love one another. “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

That’s how we show we belong to Jesus. That’s how we show we are disciples. We love one another. There’s no other definitive proof. That’s the proof someone is in Christ. Love for the brethren.

How did Jesus love? He was with them. He helped when they asked for help. He laid down His life. Peter thinks he would lay down his life for Jesus. He will, but not until he’s filled with the Holy Spirit.

We don’t have the capacity for love until we are filled with Love. Our pure, unselfish love for others only comes from God. His love pours into us by the Holy Spirit. We pour out that love to others.

The only way we can truly love each other is to get self out of the way, crucifying the flesh, and allowing the Holy Spirit to move freely through us.