“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35

Throughout His ministry, Jesus preached Love and lived LOVE. He loved everyone; all His friends and foes He loved to heart. Forgiveness played a dominant role in His ministry; in difficult situations, He forgave sins in order to administer healing – all to the glory of God. The love of God is the reason for Jesus Christ and the reconciliation between God and man. This shows that the love of God is forgiving – no matter how crimson or dark our sins may be. Further to that, it shows that the love of God reconciles us and brings us together as children of God no matter how diverse and drifted apart we could be; we must come together as one. This is a radical departure from the old testament. And so, it happened that on the night of the last supper, Jesus instituted a new Passover! A new commandment founded in LOVE! The Jewish Passover was a covenant between the Jews and God, built on obedience to God’s commandments, and also on both loving each other. But Jesus says that the blood of the lamb is no longer for the Jews alone, but for the whole world. The master offered His body and His blood to all humanity, starting with His disciples. The Master also washed the feet of His disciples on that night, thereby demonstrating the highest form of humility in service.

Therefore, the new covenant is about Jesus becoming our Lord and savior, by agreeing to give us His body and blood for our salvation. By His blood, we are set free from the power of death and darkness that rules over the earth and the heavens. In return for this, we must be prepared to give willingly of ourselves to one another - in return for God’s for us. After giving His body and blood to His disciples to eat, He also washed their feet – A demonstration of love in service. Today, we are called to love one another! Love can only be demonstrated in service, i.e. ability to bear each other’s burden no matter how difficult the circumstances may be. Jesus is calling us today to learn to make sacrifices for each other. When we pray for the poor and the weak, we must also feed them with physical food, and lift them up by making necessary provisions for them. Are you ready to step out of your comfort zone to touch lives in a special way? This Easter occasion is a good time to commence A LIFELONG JOURNEY OF PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION OF LOVE WITH CHRIST - THE LOVE OF ALL PERSONS, NO MATTER THEIR RACE, CULTURE, RELIGION AND ANY OTHER BIASES. When we thus demonstrate love, Christ abides with us and takes absolute control of our life and everything that pertains to us. His blood covers us and cleanses us. AMEN