In the Essene section of what was old Jerusalem, I visited a large house that would have belonged to a wealthy first century family. Tradition says it was the home of John Mark’s mother and possibly the site of the Last Supper. Whether it was or not, there is a lengthy account in John 13 of what happened that last night before Jesus died.


According to John, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet and then told them to do as He had done for them. He made it clear that being a Christian means not only believing in Him but also following His example. It was later in Antioch that His followers were first called Christians or “little Christs.”


But how can we be like Christ? How can we follow His example? That night in the upper room Jesus gave us the answer. He promised to send the Spirit to live with us and in us. It’s as if we were branches connected to Him, the vine. As we abide in Him, enduring through everything that would seek to tear us away from Him, we will bear the fruit of Jesus’ life in us.