Pastoral Letters

Love One Another

February 21, 2016 Author:Elder Liu Kerh Li
In the night when Jesus was about to be betrayed, knowing that very soon He would no longer be with the disciples, He did something unexpected for them: He washed their feet.  During Jesus’ time, washing of feet was done before communal meals where people sat in reclining manner.  It was the job of the lowliest servant.  At that moment where Jesus only had very little time left with the disciples.  Hence whatever he said or did must be of upmost importance.  But why did He choose to wash disciples’ feet at this juncture?  It was because “having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”  (John 13:1)  Such an act was an expression of love.  Perhaps the kind of love that parents have for their children could help us to at least have a gleam on the extent of the love that Jesus showered on the disciples.  For their children’s sake parents endured all kinds of difficulties or hardship willingly.  They sacrificed their time, convenience, sleep, health, and so on.  Likewise, because of His love for the disciples, Jesus humbled Himself to the level of the lowliest servant and served them without any qualms.  Such was the kind of love that Jesus had for the disciples.  He commanded them to emulate Him by serving one another with humility and self-sacrifice.  “When He had finished washing their feet, He put on his clothes and returned to his place.  ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’  He asked them.  ‘You call me “Teacher” and “Lord,” and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them’”  (John 13:12-17). 

For all of us in the present time, what does it mean to “wash each other’s feet”?  It is out of love that Jesus washed the disciples’ feet.  Such kind of love propelled Him to serve them even though as students they were of humbler status.  What is relevant to us today is not so much on the act of feet washing.  Rather, it is the tenderhearted compassion for others that our Lord Jesus embodied and His acts of kindness that we should strive to cultivate and emulate.  Jesus did not leave this as an option for the disciples.  It was a command that promises blessings if they obey it.  The same applies to us.  As children of God, we ought to love one another as this is our Lord’s command.  It would be quite easy to put such command into practice should everyone around us are lovable.  However, in reality, we all have aspects that are not at all lovable and because of our sinful nature, we tend to be self-centred.  Thus, it takes lots of practice and hard work to love another person.  Having said so, the fact that we have God’s life in us and have experienced firsthand the sweetness of Jesus’ unmerited love, we can be confident that we will make good progress in this area.  A heart to please God and obedience to Him are what matters. 

In church, we have talked a lot on this topic.  We really must put this into practice.  “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”  (1 John 3:18)  We can start from something easy: show care and concern for your brethren.  Grab hold of the opportunity to fellowship with brothers and sisters in church during our refreshment time, share, and understand each other’s needs.  This allows us to better uphold one another in prayer and provide practical help whenever possible.  Do come for refreshment.  Don’t hide yourself in a corner; please also don’t avoid talking to one another just because you are not used to it; it takes time for relationship to develop.  I encourage you to keep in touch with one another during the week as well through phone calls, messages or meeting up for tea, sports, shopping, or some other activities of common interest.  You may even invite another brother or sisters to join you for something that you need to do, haircut for example, thus killing two birds with one stone.  The emphasis is to develop relationship and love one another so that our Lord’s desire could be fulfilled and lives edified.  “A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  (John 13:34-35)