The task of washing feet was not even given to the servants in any culture during that time. The feet were the dirtiest parts of the body. The chapter before Jesus tells them to keep his commandments by loving others, he demonstrated his love for them in a way no one would ever do. Jesus showed his love for his disciples by seeing their sin and serving them anyway. God’s love through us crosses barriers and wipes away opposition. Obeying God’s command to love one another proves our love for God to the point of having an overflowing love for everyone. She ran into town, proclaiming that same love on everyone she encountered. Jesus’ overflowing love for the woman at the well reflected the love God had for her. The water Jesus offered would cleanse her from the inside out. The water she came to collect from the well did nothing for her life of filth. Jesus intended to show her the love of God by speaking to her and treating her kindly. She had been shown the wrong kind of love from six different men. Their differences were astounding: male and female.Hebrew Jew and Samaritan.pure and sinful. The God Jacob worshipped, waits to speak to an ostracized Samaritan woman who also happened to be shunned by her town as well. The well is in the Jewish lineage, built by Jacob-one of the Patriarchs of the Jewish faith. Jesus purposely sits down at the well of Jacob on the outskirts of the town. Samaritans were not allowed to travel to Jerusalem to enter the synagogue for any festivals. Opposing beliefs caused the Jewish people to travel the longer route around Samaria to avoid any interaction. Their cause for hate was due to their religious differences. Jews avoided the town of Samaria as if they were infected with disease. In John 4, at the beginning of his travels, Jesus brings his disciples to a town of outcasts, hated by the rest of Jewish society. Jesus spent his ministry demonstrating love for others and reflecting the love of God. Photo Credit: © Sparrowstock How Jesus Demonstrated Love throughout the Scriptures The command to love God and love others encompasses all Ten Commandments. He would no longer physically be with them, but they were to go on loving others to reflect God’s love on the world. Jesus was preparing them for his absence. He was sharing with them the calling God has placed on their lives and all our lives. Jesus told the disciples that to show their love for God, they had to keep His commandments. Jesus did not take these commands lightly. Jesus was sharing a final meal with his friends and his final words to them centered around love. In John 13:34, Jesus tells the disciples to “love one another.” One chapter later, in John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (NKJV) In the New Testament, Jesus gives many commands regarding love. What Does ‘If You Love Me, Keep My Commandments’ Mean? The Bible tells us that while love may not always be present, it should always be the goal. God’s love for His creation and desire for us to always remain with Him drove him to sacrifice his own Son, in the name of love, as punishment for our sin. Thankfully, we do find the overarching theme of “love” in the Bible. Reading through the Bible we find stories of war, division, and opposition. The timeless beauty of the Bible reveals the same cultural struggles as we experience today. Dissension, animosity, and chaos bring to light the condition of our world. When turning on the news or scrolling through social media “love” is not quite the overriding theme of the day.
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