Love is Forgiving
Phrase of the day: Love is forgiving.
Definition: Forgive – to excuse, no longer blame or be angry with someone who has done you wrong
This week’s Bible Verse: (Love) is not selfish, and does not become angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. I Corinthians 13:5b (ICB)
Bible Lesson: Washing the Disciples’ Feet – John 13:1–17 (ICB)
It was almost time for the Jewish Passover Feast. This was the time of remembering how God saved Moses and the Hebrews from Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Jesus and His disciples were all eating dinner together. Earlier in the evening, the disciples were having a disagreement about who was the most important so Jesus used this time to show them the truth. Jesus already knew that His disciple Judas betrayed Him for a little bit of money and His disciple Simon Peter would deny three times that he knew Jesus at all. That’s what makes what Jesus was about to do even more amazing.
During the meal, Jesus stood up and took off His outer clothing. He then took a towel and wrapped it around His waist. Jesus came to Simon Peter, but Simon Peter said, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You don’t understand what I am doing now. But you will understand later.” Peter said, “No! You will never wash my feet.” Peter didn’t feel that Jesus, the Son of God, should wash other’s feet. He thought instead that Jesus should have His feet washed by others. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Peter wanted to be accepted by Jesus. Jesus said that someone in the room was unclean. That person was Judas Iscariot. Judas betrayed Jesus and would later lead Jesus to danger.
Jesus then washed Simon Peter’s feet and along with all of the other disciples. Once He finished, He put His outer clothes back on and sat down. Jesus asked His disciples, “Do you understand what I have just done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ And this is right, because that is what I am. I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet. So you also should wash each other’s feet. I did this as an example for you. So you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth. A servant is not greater than his master. A messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.”
Big Idea: Love is forgiving. Although Jesus knew that His disciples would go against Him, He chose to do a caring act by washing their feet. Jesus didn’t hold back ANY of His love for the disciples. Through this simple act, Jesus showed us that His love is bigger than the things we have done wrong. His love for us means that we are forgiven of everything we ever have done wrong in the past and everything we will do wrong in the future. Jesus had already forgiven Simon Peter and Judas and wanted to show love to them by washing their feet. Jesus is the ultimate example of a BFF because He chose to forgive those who hurt Him.
Application: How can we love like Jesus? Before we can love like Jesus we need to accept the love and forgiveness He has for us. Have you asked Jesus for His forgiveness? In order to go to Heaven to be with Jesus, we ask Him to be in charge of our lives through prayer. It is as easy as ABC! 1) Admit you sin and do wrong things that need forgiveness from God. 2) Believe that Jesus is God and that He died on the cross to take away your sin. 3) Call on Jesus to come into your life. This prayer is simple, but when you pray this prayer, you will become a Christian! God wants us to know the forgiveness and love of Jesus and to show His forgiveness and love to others as well. The way to be a BFF with Jesus is to ask Him in your heart!
Answer it in class:
1) Who did Jesus forgive in this story?
2) Why did Jesus forget all of the bad things the disciples were going to do?
3) Why should I forgive people?
Live it Out Challenge: Jesus forgave in this story! Think about who you might need to forgive this week. Also, ask God to help you forgive that person.
(Love) is not selfish, and does not become angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. I Corinthians 13:5b (ICB)
