Have you ever felt fully loved?  What made you feel that way?

At the Passover meal in the Upper Room with his disciples, this beautiful statement is made about Jesus. “Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to his Father.  Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.”

Jesus would do this by serving them in the greatest possible way, laying down his life for them.  “For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus humbled himself and became a servant, stooping down to cleanse the disciples’ filthy feet.

Philippians 2:7-9 tells us that Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross.”

Jesus humbled himself and became a servant, dying to cleanse the disciples’ sin-stained souls.

In this way, Jesus showed the full extent of his love.

Jesus, if I am ever going to show the full extent of your love to a lost and dying world, I must model the incarnation, being willing to first show the full extent of my love.

Father, teach me how to love like Jesus.

There are times we should keep our mouths shut…  and there are times we shouldn’t!  Do we know the difference?

Leading up to the cross, we read in Matthew 25 the parables of the Ten Virgins, the Faithful and Worthless Servants, and the Sheep and the Goats.  In each of these examples, Jesus makes it clear that many who think they’ll be in his kingdom will not be.  Then in John 12, we read the reality of this happening among the Jewish elite.

“Many of the Jewish leaders believed that I was the Christ, but because of the Pharisees, they would not confess it openly.   They were afraid of being put out of the synagogue.   They loved the adulation of people more than the praise that comes from God.”

This makes me think…

Were these Jewish leaders believers?   Had they put their faith in Christ alone?

Because they weren’t willing to confess belief in Christ, did that mean they didn’t truly believe?   Could they have been secret Christians?

When I fail to confess my faith in Christ, what am I afraid of?   They were afraid of rejection, of losing their public standing, of sacrificing their reputation.  Is it the same for me?

When I behave in such a way that reflects that I love the adulation of men more than the praise of God, what am I missing?   What am I failing to see or understand about my Father?   Why would I ever choose man’s praise over God’s?   Oh, what foolishness blinds our hearts!

Father, I want to walk so closely as an intimate of yours that I would never choose to trifle with lesser pursuits…  NEVER!

What message do I hear?  Which words captivate my heart?

Jesus’ words about the Last Days and his return (found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) must have rattled the disciples when just days later their friend and leader was crucified and buried.  They must have felt that the end, or at least their end, was at hand as they remembered Jesus’ words, “Time has run out. The end is at hand. Nation will war against nation. There will be earthquakes and famines everywhere. Terrifying sights and signs will fill the heavens.”

In their fear, I’m sure those words reverberated through their minds.  But did they remember these words?   “When you are put on trial, don’t be anxious about what to say.  The Holy Spirit will tell you what to say.  He will speak through you.  They won’t be able to refute you!”

I’m sure they remembered Jesus’ words, “Evil will become rampant.  Men’s love for one another and for God will grow cold.”  But did they remember these words?  “Those who stand firm to the end will be saved.  The glad message of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the entire world so that every nation will hear.”

I’m sure they remembered Jesus saying, “How terrible it will be in those days…  The suffering at that time will be greater than at any time since the world began…  Some will be killed by sword…  Jerusalem will be trampled down!”   But in their anguish, did they remember Jesus’ promise?  “They will see me arriving on the clouds of heaven with overwhelming power and glory.  The great trumpet will sound, and in triumph I will send out my angels to gather my people….”

When the skies grow dark and my days cold, does my vision grow cloudy and my memory dull?   Do I remember…  I am not alone.  God will help me.  God’s purposes prevail.  We win!

Father, I don’t want to walk overwhelmed by fear.  Help me to walk overwhelmed by your power, your glory, your goodness, your love!