On Memorial Day, our country took time to pause and honor those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. As my husband and I walked through a local cemetery, beautifully lined with flags, I was overcome with emotion as I reflected on my freedom – not only in America but in Jesus.
The sacrifice Jesus made for humanity wasn’t just for a particular country, but for the entire world. It wasn’t just for the day He lived in, but for every day that would be.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
As the time approached for Jesus to sacrifice His life, Scripture says that He showed His disciples the full extent of His love by washing their feet (John 13:1). Jesus continually shows us a greater way. The way of love. The way of sacrifice. They way of servant leadership. The way of obedience. The way of blessing. The way of life. The way of forgiveness.
Not only did Jesus lay His life down for His friends, but He laid His life down for His enemies.
Judas was among those whose feet were washed that evening. Jesus loved Judas – displaying the full extent of His love – even though He knew Judas was to betray Him. I am continually amazed by the love Jesus showed Judas and by the choice Judas made to betray Jesus.
Washing feet denotes humility and service. In showing the disciples the full extent of His love, Jesus also challenges them to go and do the same. Whose feet are we willing to wash? Who are we willing to humbly serve? Go and love as Jesus loved. Go and refresh the weary. Go and bring the cleansing of blood of Jesus to those who need it – whether a friend or an enemy.
Jesus doesn’t just suggest that we love others, He commands it. The fruit of this obedience is others seeing Jesus in us. As we love one another, everyone will know that we are His disciples (John 13:34). The way to love is in laying our lives down. We have this opportunity daily, maybe not in putting our physical lives in danger, but in choosing to die to self and to live out the freedom Jesus’ death paid for.
We put up the American flag to portray our freedom. Jesus puts a flag over us to portray His love that bought our freedom.
He has taken me to the banquet hall, and His banner over me is love.
Song of Songs 2:4
As you enjoy the costly freedom you live in, don’t forget to show the full the extent of your love to others. In serving, in honoring, and proclaiming the freedom of Jesus wherever you go.
Not just to the rich, not just to America, not just to the believer, not just to the educated, and not just to the inner circle. The question is, are we willing to show the love of Jesus to whomever He puts across our path?
