John 13:33–36

Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”

Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”

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This passage began with Jesus demonstrating selfless love by washing His disciples’ feet and came full circle when Jesus commanded them to love one another. Their selfless, mutual love would be what would primarily identify them as followers of Jesus. The chapter also began with Peter resisting Jesus’ offer to wash his feet and ended with Peter once again pushing back against Jesus’ words. While Peter was the most vocal disciple throughout the Last Supper, he was representative of all the disciples who lacked an understanding of the significance of Jesus’ words.

The Parliament of England passed the first trademark law in 1266, under the leadership of King Henry III. This piece of legislation stated all bakers would choose a distinctive mark to signify the bread they sold (wipo.int, “Trademarks”). Trademarks clearly notate the place a good or service comes from. They grant the backing of the law to defend specific brands. Trademarks are protection from fraud as well as unique symbols of origin and belonging.

Far more significant than a fish outlined on a bumper sticker or the letters “WWJD” carved into the beads on a bracelet is what Christ would consider to be the registered trademark of the Christian calling: love. As His disciples, we are called to love one another as Jesus Christ has loved us.

That concludes our devotional for today. Let us finish with a word of prayer.

WORD OF PRAYER

Jesus, I thank You for the love You have shown me, a love so deep and sacrificial that it surpasses anything I can fully comprehend. Help me to live out Your commandment to love others as You have loved me. Let my life be marked by love, so that those around me will know that I am Your disciple. Teach me to love selflessly and to put others before myself, just as You have done for me. May this love be the sign that points others to You and glorifies Your name.

In the name of Jesus, amen.