Day 27: Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends
Jesus shifts his weight and changes position. Peter reaches for the torch to take his turn holding it for the group. He looks around for a place to tuck it in, but ends up resting his arm on his knee, the fire illuminating Jesus’ face. The mix of intensity, sadness, and joy on Jesus’ face startles him as Jesus turns to look directly at him. His heart beats a little quicker as he anticipates what Jesus will say.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,”
he says gently, still looking at Peter. Tears sting Peter’s eyes, but defiance flares in his heart, even as he fears the future Jesus foretold at dinner, that he would deny he even knew Jesus before the morning dawned. Jesus breaks his gaze and thoughtfully looks around at the band of people he loves, his friends. Peter sets his jaw and blinks back tears as he follows Jesus’ gaze around the group. Determined to follow Jesus to death, he instinctively reaches for the sword on his side. Peter has tried to ensure that no one will die without a fight. John catches Peter’s eye. He remembers the time when Jesus said he was the Good Shepherd and would lay down his life for his sheep. He remembers that Jesus said he would choose to lay down his life, that no one could take it from him. John shakes his head at Peter. Peter looks away.
Vineyard Metaphor
In the vineyard, the vine gives everything it has to the branches.
There is nothing the vine possesses that is not made available to the branches. The very lifeblood of the vine flows into the branches.
From the beginning of spring, when the bud breaks out of its tiny hiding place complete with flowers, tendrils, shoots, and leaves, all the way through the growth cycle until harvest and beyond, the vine supplies the branches with water. It’s what the vine does. The vine never has to decide whether to send water to the branches. Even though the vine may struggle to find water, sending its roots deeper every year, it always sends every drop of water it finds up through the system of xylem cells, feeding every part of the vine, all the way to the very end of each branch.
The nourishment moves through the branches to the grapes, and, after a long, hot summer, veraison happens and the grapes are transformed. Just a few weeks later, the purpose of the vine is accomplished with harvest.
The joy of harvest is the result of the vine’s incredible effort. The vine has given everything for harvest.
Reflection and Meditation
Just as the vine gives everything it has, without hesitation, to the branches to produce the fruit for harvest, Jesus lays down his life for those he loves. There is nothing more Jesus could give to show his love. His life is the very essence of God’s love, and he gives it all. He holds nothing back. There is no hesitation. It’s natural, automatic, fluid. This is the greatest love of all.
Spend a moment to imagine the lifeblood of Jesus being expended, poured out for you.
Visualize the life-giving blood, streaming into your own veins. Like a branch, can you feel the loving nourishment flowing into your soul? Can you hear Jesus call you friend?
“Hey, friend. I love you. I want you to have life in abundance. I will pour my life into you, so you can truly live.”
Jesus has made the ultimate sacrifice, so you can live.
How would you like to respond to this incredible, life-giving love? Maybe you’d like to kneel in silence and awe. Or stand and sing praises…
Whatever your posture, receive the love of Jesus.
You can rest in his love.
“The measure and test of love to God is wholehearted and unqualified obedience...the measure and test of love to our neighbors is laying down our lives for them... ”