By Edwin White
“One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him” (John 13:23, New International Version).
When we pause to count our blessings, we often think of family first. They are usually the ones we love most, and so we are most thankful for them.
It’s interesting that the Scriptures make specific mention of the fact that Jesus loved this one disciple. Of course, he loved all of them, but somehow, this one was special. What do you suppose set him apart from the others?
Surely Jesus was much like we are. He was, after all, human just as surely as he was divine. Why do we love some of our friends and relatives more than others? Is it that they share our interests and aspirations? Are we drawn closer to them because they exhibit traits we admire, traits we consider loveable? I can’t help but wonder if John made a more conscious effort to develop the attributes he saw in Jesus. Perhaps he tried to be as loving and kind as his Master. Perhaps that is why Jesus was drawn to him. He loved John because John loved him more extravagantly than the others.
When we come to this table of the Lord to remember Jesus, we should try to be like the disciple Jesus loved, try to be the kind of person Jesus would want to be close to. We should hunger and thirst for righteousness so we can be as much like the person Jesus loved as possible.
John wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (I John 4:7, 8, New King James Version).
As we partake of the loaf and the cup, we remember the One who loved us enough to die for us. Let us strive to love as he loved so we can be as close to him as possible.
Edwin White is a retired Christian minister. He earned degrees from Mid-South Christian College, Alabama Christian School of Religion, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He lives in Milledgeville, Ga. His book of Communion meditations, Come to the Table, is available from Amazon.
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