One of the intriguing descriptions the disciple
John (author of at least five books in the Bible) gives to himself is the
disciple who often is leaning up close to Jesus, his head either on Jesus’ chest
or shoulder (John 13:22-25). “The disciple Jesus loved” is his designation.
Apparently, John was especially close to Jesus and therefore boldly loyal.
The night Jesus was arrested and sent to His
execution, John is the one disciple who refuses to run away in fear and instead
follows as closely as possible to Jesus. And years later, when John has been
banished by the Roman authorities to a little island off the coast of Turkey, he
documents (in the Bible document called “Revelation”) his visions of Jesus
returning to earth at the end of time as the triumphant liberator.
In all his letters John writes with boldness and
confidence, brimming with a sense of security from knowing Jesus, deeply
experiencing His love and eagerly anticipating Jesus’ return. Here is one of
those passages: “And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will
not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence
because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because
perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment,
and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” (1 John
4:17--18, NLT)
John writes these words facing a very uncertain
future since the Roman authorities are actively persecuting Christians. And yet
his words exude great confidence and lack of fear. He’s completely secure in
his connection with God, unafraid of the future. He’s being empowered by his
love with Jesus. He’s living in that love and the more he acknowledges it,
relishes it and lives in it, the deeper and more complete that love becomes.
And with every deepening comes greater confidence. He calls it “perfect love.”
The disciple known as “the one Jesus loved” …
the disciple who was often leaning up against Jesus’ chest so closely he could
hear Jesus’ heart beat … the disciple who, when Jesus was hanging on the cross
with life violently being ripped away, stood at the foot of the cross and heard
Jesus say about his executioners, “Father, forgive them because they don’t know
what they’re doing” … the disciple who watched Jesus during the moments of his
greatest suffering remember to provide for his mother by giving her to John and
giving John to her … this disciple experienced so intimately the unselfish and
extravagant love of Jesus that he described it as “perfect love.” And it
empowered him with absolute confidence and assurance.
Have you noticed the difference between people
who are fearful and insecure and those who are confident? Who would you rather
be around? Jesus’ followers are genuinely confident people, not because they
have life all together, not because they’re perfect, not because they know it
all, not even because everything always goes smoothly. They’re not arrogant.
They’re not presumptuous. They aren’t intimidated by what others think of them
or think they should be. They’re not insecure with having mystery and the
unexplainable. They’re not afraid of differences of opinion. They’re not
threatened by diversity. But they are secure: they know who they are and to
whom they belong. They have complete confidence and assurance in God’s love for
them and their love for God and their ultimate destiny.
Consequently, they can live with boldness, like
the One they follow. They can serve others freely no matter what the cost, like
Jesus. They can love sacrificially because they hold everything with an open
hand. They don’t grasp tightly, they give extravagantly. Only free, confident,
secure people can live like that; Jesus’ way of living!
Disciple John remembers clearly that night in
the upper room when Jesus, Rabbi and Lord, took off his robe, put on the
servant’s towel, picked up the pitcher and basin, and washed the disciples’
dirty feet. John got it when he later reflected on the scene and described how Jesus
could do such a radical act of service and love:
“Jesus knew that the Father had given him
authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to
God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his
waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’
feet.” (John 13:3-5, NLT)
Jesus revealed the key to serving boldly and
unselfishly: being confident and secure in who you are and where you’re going
and how God feels about you. Only the truly confident, who know they are
completely embraced by God unconditionally, can unashamedly and courageously
serve and love extravagantly.
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