“Men, we are here to celebrate the Passover, remembering when the Father saved his people from the death angel. When the angel saw blood on the doorposts, he passed over that house. God’s people were saved to be a representative of Him among the nations. Today, I have given you an example of what my representative would do; he would do as I do as a servant. You have been my closest followers for three years. I hand-picked each one of you after spending an entire night in prayer with my Father. Then, I took you as rookies and trained you in the things that I do so that you can do them also. I want you to continue to do the things I do by serving others.”

“Sounds to me like he’s giving a farewell speech, doesn’t it, John?” Peter whispered as he leaned across the table to his best friend.

“Now, I have a sad announcement to make. After all I’ve done for you, one of you is going to betray me.” The room went dead silent but suddenly burst into confusion and chaos.

“Is it I, Lord?”, “Is it I, Lord?” came from every corner of the room. They looked at one another in total amazement.

Peter nodded to John, who was closest to Jesus, at the table for him to ask who it was. Reclining on his elbow, John leaned back to Jesus to ask privately, “Who is it, Lord?”

Jesus replied, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread that I have dipped in the dish.” As Jesus said this, he handed the bread to Judas. The men were in confusion, knowing this action was usually reserved for a person of honor.

“What you are going to do, do it quickly,” Jesus said to Judas, sending him out into the night. The men figured he was being sent on an errand of some kind. After all, he had just honored Judas with the piece of bread.

“What is he doing? Why is Judas being honored?” More confusion erupted. “I don’t understand why you chose him to be a part of our group, anyway. He pilfered from our funds that were supposed to go to the poor and complained about any kind of spending that was necessary for the ministry. You’d think it was his money. And now you send him on an important errand?” Peter pondered quietly. Jesus looked at Peter, knowing his thoughts, and Peter felt ashamed.

“Men, I am going away…” Jesus began.

“I knew it! I just knew this was a farewell speech!” Peter muttered as he looked at John.

“…but before I go, I want to give you a new commandment. I want you to love one another just as I have loved you. If you love even people you don’t think are deserving, people who are different than you, others will know that you have been with me.”

Jesus went on. “Love often isn’t easy. I’m not asking you to love your friends. It’s when you love those who are not your friends that people will know that you have learned from me. Love those who are different and those who may not follow all the Jewish laws to the letter, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. I am not looking for people who follow the letter of the law, but people who have a right heart and proper motives.”

“Love those who are different than you, those who may not follow all the Jewish laws to the letter…” Fast-forward years later, Peter remembered these words. Now God was testing him by sending a vision of all unclean things that Jews were not supposed to eat, and He was telling him to eat! What?! Eating these things was taboo for any Jew well-versed in the Law. He had never let any of those things pass his lips, but now God was telling him to eat.

“Some men are at the door, Peter. They are different than you. They are Gentiles. Go with them.” God’s words to him were clear. That left Peter wondering how to act. The only Gentiles he knew were sinners who opposed the Truth. Then he remembered, “Love those who are different than you, those who may not follow all the Jewish laws to the letter. In this way, they will know that you have learned from Me.”

(Based on various Scripture passages, but mainly Matthew 5:44; John 13-16; Acts 10:9-20)