Friday, March 29, 2013

Last supper

I was going to begin writing a series of posts regarding why we need Comprehensive Immigration Reform, but being as it is the beginning of the Resurrection weekend, and because this fits in with what I will say in the future, I thought I would jot down a few thoughts that God has impressed upon me today and get to the other topic later on. At the end of the gospels, we see Jesus eating his last supper with his disciples. During this supper, he institutes the bread and wine. A perfect picture foretelling his own sacrifice on behalf of all unworthy sinners. His death was the ultimate act of selflessness... dying on behalf of someone else. Some of us would possibly die for the sake of a close family member, or a spouse, but how many of us would die for our enemies? And just before Jesus breaks the bread and pours out the wine, he demonstrates another very tangible way of being selfless... of being a servant - by washing the disciples feet. Jesus did for others what they should have been doing for him. Two pictures of humility, service, love, and grace. And yet, I often skim right over these two pictures and end up right where the disciples were a few minutes later - thinking and arguing about "who would be the greatest". They totally missed the point, and I often miss the point too. In fact, often my heart is so deceitful, I can serve someone and, upon reflection, find that my motive was to make me "the greatest"... just like the disciples were arguing about. Jesus didn't concern himself with being the greatest. He simply knew that he was the Son of the Greatest in the Kingdom, and that was enough. That should be enough for me. Then Jesus says, "A new command I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." What does this love look like? Just like Jesus' love - a love so great, that he died for his enemies. A love so great that he suffered in the place of those who rejected (and continue to reject) him. A love so great that he served the very ones that he created to serve himself. When I think about this - I have to admit that I have so far to go. My love is childish, selfish, and pitiful. This world is dying to experience a love like this, and they are looking for it in all the wrong places. Jesus said, "By this all people will know that you are MY disciples, IF you have love for one another." The only way that the world is going to see Jesus, is if we demonstrate his love... by dying for our enemies, by suffering for those who rejected us, and by serving the ones who should be serving us.