The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) – DATE: THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024 – TOPIC: BETRAYAL OF LOVE
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THE DAILY FOUNTAIN
DAILY DEVOTIONAL OF THE
CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DATE: THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024
(Maundy Thursday)
TOPIC: BETRAYAL OF LOVE
READ: JOHN 13: 1-38 (NKJV)
13:1. Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
13:2. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s [son,] to betray Him,
13:3. Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,
13:4. rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.
13:5. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel with which He was girded.
13:6. Then He came to Simon Peter. And [Peter] said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
13:7. Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
13:8. Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
13:9. Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head!”
13:10. Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash [his] feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”
13:11. For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
13:12. So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?
13:13. “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for [so] I am.
13:14. “If I then, [your] Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
13:15. “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
13:16. “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.
13:17. “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
13:18. “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’
13:19. “Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am [He.]
13:20. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
13:21. When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
13:22. Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.
13:23. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
13:24. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.
13:25. Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
13:26. Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped [it.”] And having dipped the bread, He gave [it] to Judas Iscariot, [the son] of Simon.
13:27. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
13:28. But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him.
13:29. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy [those things] we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.
13:30. Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.
13:31. So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.
13:32. “If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately.
13:33. “Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.
13:34. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”
Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”
37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”
38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.
THE MESSAGE:
Today’s passage narrates the conversation between Jesus and His disciples before His crucifixion. Jesus practically showed His disciples His love and acts of humility by washing their feet (verses 4-17). However, He was troubled in the Spirit that despite the outpouring of love and hospitality to His disciples, one of them “has lifted his heel against him (verse 18). Referring to Psalm 41: 9, Jesus showed His outright dismay that the prophecy of His betrayal could be fulfilled through one of His disciples taking cruel advantage of His affection and cordiality.
It is revealing that the devil put it in the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus (verse 2). This showed us that the problem of Judas Iscariot was his heart. He showed outward commitment to Jesus but inwardly, he rejected Jesus as his Lord and allowed the devil to take hold of his heart. He hardened his heart despite several chances given him to repent. The heart is the central focus of the enemy, and once it is conquered, life is gone. This is the reason we are called to guard our hearts against the attack of the enemy. Who rules your heart? Are you working against Jesus’ will for you? While Judas was throwing away his loyalty to Jesus, Peter was reaffirming his loyalty (verse 37). We must be ready to affirm our loyalty to Jesus daily and renew our commitment.
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