Jesus Love From Head To Toe

Thursday: The Passion of Jesus From Head To Toe


“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-26  


Thursday of the Passion Week is a day of tremendous highs and lows in the life of our Lord. You cant read the events of the day without getting a sense of the tension that was building leading up to the Cross. Jesus is the only one who is fully aware of what is going on and who understands the implications of all the events taking place. The disciples are feeling the pressure mounting as they themselves are being targeted as followers of Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders are resolved that Jesus has to die for opposing their authority. The religious leaders are only concerned with eliminating Jesus in such a way that the general population would support and not oppose their decision. In other words, they didn’t want Jesus blood on their hands and much of what the religious authorities will spend today doing is finalizing their false accusations against Jesus to ensure their will is fulfilled.

As I have been studying the events the Passion Week I am reminded of what a staff goes through behind the scenes of a large conference or banquette. There can be so much energy being expelled it appears to be what I would call, “organized chaos” as people are frantically running around fighting the clock to accomplish their assigned tasks. The clock is ticking and the tension is building.

Jesus sends Peter and John to make preparation for the Passover meal that Jesus was going to host for His disciples on the night of His betrayal as Jesus knew full well that His hour had come. The hour had come for which Jesus was born into this world. His hour of suffering for the sins of the mankind was upon Jesus and before He went to the Cross He desired to share a meal with His disciples before He departed.

After the sun sets Jesus and His disciples share the Last Supper together where Jesus instituted the supper reminding the disciples that it was His body broken for them as well as His blood that was shed, all for the forgiveness of sin. Jesus taught them that as often as they took the bread and drank of the cup they would be proclaiming the His death until He returns for them one day.

It was at this supper where Jesus would continue to demonstrate His devotion and love for His disciples at a moment in time where they should have been washing Jesus feet, and waiting on Him hand and foot. As Jesus goes around the table washing their feet He exhorts them to remember to wash each others feet in loving service with the same heart He has for them. A friend once told me that you know if you are a servant or not by the way you respond when someone treats you like one. Though Jesus was God, He never demanded allegiance. God knows love cant be legislated, love is a choice and thank God Jesus chose us. I am reminded of the old saying, “I’m glad God chose me before the foundation of the world for I am sure He would not have done so afterwards.” Amazing love Jesus demonstrates every moment of every day.

It was at this supper where Satan would fill Judas heart and he would betray the Lord for 30 pieces of silver to the religious leaders who were plotting Jesus death. With Judas gone the supper came to an end and Jesus and the disciples would make their way to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus will go to His Father in prayer needing the comfort that only the presence of His Father could provide. It was there in the garden Jesus would be pushed to the limit in anguish. The realization that Jesus was going to experience for the first time in eternity separation from His Father when Jesus would take on the sins of the world was too much for Him to bare. Jesus was sweating blood drops as the gravity of the Cross weighed upon Him.

We will never be able to fully comprehend what transpired when Jesus, who knew no sin became sin for us on the Cross, causing the Father, for three hours in His perfect justice to turn His back on His Son. The angels of heaven came and comforted Jesus or He might have died right then and there. As we appreciate the love of Jesus demonstrated for us we also can glean some wonderful truths that can help to carry us through our dark days, through our difficult days when we feel like the weight of the world is upon us.

What do you do when you are under stress? Where do you go? The answers are probably as varied as there are people. Jesus life serves as the perfect model of what we should do. Jesus didn’t focus on Himself, He focused on others. He didn’t get on the phone and complain about life trying to get people to take His side. Jesus got alone with God and prayed. Jesus poured out His heart to His Father and it was in prayer where He found comfort. A great reminder today for you and me to run to God not from Him when life hurts. Cast all your cares upon Jesus for He cares for you!  


“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

JOHN 13:14-17

I LOVE YOU!