Monday, April 4th, 2022
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
February 17th, 2022
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.” ~Luke 6:32
“While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”~Luke 22:47-48
Bible Reading • John 13:1-30
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “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 you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.” After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.”
Challenge • Questions
- Have you ever loved someone who did not love you back?
- No, I don’t believe I have experienced loving someone who did not love me back; however, I have loved two individuals deeply that did not love me back in the same way I {thought I} loved them. When love and attraction are co-mingled sometimes things do not work out the way we hope. With truth and honesty the love found in friendship will grow and mature, sweeter year by year. One such friend, I loved and cherished spending as much time as possible with. She was easy to talk to and inspired me to be “me” she was a great friend and mentor. She always had time for me and was a great listener. We met as I was starting my career working with adults with disabilities just a year out of college. My friend passed away very unexpectedly in 2005, we had first met back in 1987; I cherish the memories of her and our friendship. I have another friend that I met about a decade later and we were instant friends. She was an incredible source of pure energy, we quickly became friends and she just “got me” she seemed to know there was depth in my thinking, writing and my being. She still does to this day. I love her deeply, she has always loved me unconditionally and is supportive of my endeavors. We don’t need to talk on a regular basis and we don’t hang out a lot but we know we can count on one another if the need arises. *Thank you Laura and Shelly for loving me in all the best possible ways. 💞
- How did that affect your love for them?
- The love from Laura and Shelly taught me that love comes in many forms, they gave me the love I needed not the love I thought I wanted. Jesus’ love for us is the love we don’t deserve and is completely unconditional. “We love because he first loved us.” ~1 John 4:19 (NIV).
- Have you ever been rejected or betrayed by someone you though loved you?
- Yes, and does it hurt. But, I have also rejected and betrayed others. I’m ashamed to admit it, but it’s the truth. Selfishness and deceit caused me to hurt someone that I cared about and said I loved. Cowardliness only made the situation worse. So as fate would have it’s way, I too lost someone I loved deeply. Love is not for the faint of heart. Love is beautiful as it is painful. I have repented of these horrible actions and have asked for forgiveness from God and of those I hurt. Time is not the healer of wounds, grief is not my enemy. It is ever present within me as it cycles through its stages. I am friendly with grief, it remind me of what was and reminds me of who I am and who I want to be. The final step in understanding love for me was learning to love myself. Accepting myself for my past and encouraging myself to do better in the present, and the future. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” ~James 5:16 (NIV)
- How has this affected your view of Jesus’ love for you?
- Jesus loves you. Jesus loves me. We did not have to earn His love. If Jesus loves me, who am I not to love me neighbor (?). “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” ~1 Peter 4:8 (NIV). “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” ~Proverbs 10:12 (NIV). Through all my circumstances Jesus’ love is steadfast. The more I love Jesus, the more I am able to understand love. Love is more than a word that makes you feel good, warm and fuzzy.
- Love is patient
- Love is kind.
- Love does not envy
- Love does not boast
- Love is not proud
- Love does not dishonor others
- Love is not self-seeking
- Love is not easily angered
- Love keeps no record of wrongs
- Love does not delight in evil
- Love rejoices with the truth
- Love always protects
- Love always trusts
- Love always hopes
- Love always perseveres
- Love never fails.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)
📚 • 📚 • Further Study • 📚 • 📚
Exodus 21:32 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Exodus%2021:32&version=NIV
Psalm 41:9 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%2041:9&version=NIV
Psalm 89:14 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%2089:14&version=NIV
Proverbs 6:16-19 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%206:16-19&version=NIV
Matthew 26:48-50 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2026:48-50&version=NIV
Luke 22:1-7 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%2022:1-7&version=NIV
Luke 17:12-17 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%2017:12-17&version=NIV
Romans 5:10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%205:10&version=NIV
Friends/Followers — Thank you for visiting my blog today. I thank God for each of you. You are a blessing to me. I’m thankful for a space to share my faith, my life and my hopes. God Bless You. When the peace of Christ rules in our hearts, thankfulness overflows. Even in the darkest of times, we can praise God for his love, his sovereignty, and his promise to be near us when we call.
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfils the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.”
— Psalm 145:18-19 (NRSVA) —
~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.
References:
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