May 19

I have always been struck by the act of Jesus in John 13.  With all that power and authority and future glory, he took it off as if it was the robe he was wearing.  He took upon himself the humanness of a created being with no regret or remorse.  As John will say later on, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13). But with a questioning disciple (Peter) and a betraying disciple (Judas) among those whose feet he washed, I think this showed the greatest love.  And that was not the end of his love.  The very next day he would die for the sinners of the world, the very people who put him up on that cross. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). We where God’s enemies, estranged and opposed to God, and yet he died for us because of his love.  And even more so, he died for those who he knew would never turn to him in repentance.  He died for those who will spend eternity in hell because of their willful refusal to turn and repent.  LOVE!!!