Bathed in service

John 13:12-20…

When Christ told us to wash one another’s feet, He was not simply talking about the physical act, but about humility and service to one another. However, it goes further than that. This is Jesus telling us that we are to give ourselves to a specific set of individuals. You give yourself to all of Christ’s body, but you wash the feet of those whom you are in intimate fellowship with. This is most often with those whom you get muddy with on a regular basis, like Jesus with His disciples.

A proof of this is found in 1 Timothy 5:9-10. The true widow who had humbled herself and served others personally shows us that this is about a local fellowship, not just a general principle only. You give yourself to a group of people and those people are whose feet you wash.

Even then, there will be people who will do you wrong. He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me. Jesus knew what Judas was going to do, and what would be done to the disciples. He knows that we will face false accusation and suffer persecution. Remember, if we are washing someone’s feet, we are made vulnerable; they can kick us in the face. Still, like Him, and like them, we are to be closely serving others.

Christians can get really defeated in their spiritual lives. Persecution, trials, and the sufferings of this life can weigh so heavy. We sin, backslide, and our spiritual feet get muddy and filthy. Our fellowship with God is hindered, we lose our peace and joy, we get spiritually sick inside. We get spiritually depressed, and we don’t feel like praying, reading our Bible, or going to church. We must be humble enough to allow others to wash our feet, and humble enough to wash other’s feet. This means we confess to one another and pray for one another (James 5:16).

If you think that you don’t have to be a vital, vulnerable part of a local church, if you simply want to serve from a distance, from a position of strength, your discipleship is all dried up. You’ve thrown in the towel against the church instead of girding yourself with it.  

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Humility illustrated

John 13:1-11…

Jesus knew He was just a day from His death. So He wanted to illustrate to His disciples one of His greatest lessons. He was doing something that they did not as yet fully understand. Not simply why He was doing the act, but what it represented, what they had failed as yet to grasp. This was the lesson of humility, the great key to holiness and a loving hope.

The backdrop of this beautiful display of Jesus is a despicable display by the disciples. You see, Jesus began washing the disciples’ feet after the meal had already started. But foot washing normally occurred before the meal, when guests arrived. The point is that instead of looking at Jesus with awe and washing His feet, they were still arguing about who should be the greatest (Mark 9:33-34, 10:35-41 / Luke 9:46-48, 22:24-27). No one would stoop down to serve, and so Jesus gives them an object lesson. 

Actually, they already had an example of this (Matthew 26:7-13 / Mark 14:6-9 / John 12:2-8). Consider that incident and the weight Christ places on it, and His reinforcing it here with His own example. Obviously humility of this nature is an integral part of living out the gospel in our lives. Humility is a facet of the gospel that must not be ignored (Philippians 2:5-8).

However, no matter how humble we may by grace become, it still is no match compared to our Master. Only Christ can humble Himself and give up everything for men who cannot give Him anything. Those we serve can give us the satisfaction of their thanks but here Christ, who is God, sees the utter wickedness of mankind.

Humility doesn’t mean poor, it doesn’t mean pious, and it doesn’t mean powerless. Humility means you trust God and you treasure God. Humility is surrendering your will to God’s will. We all want to be heroes. We would gladly wash the feet of Jesus, or even our brothers and sisters in Christ, but I want you to consider something. Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him, but He ate with him anyway, and washed his feet also (Matthew 5:43-48).

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

A certain man, a certain plan

Matthew 26:17-20 / Mark 14:12-17 / Luke 22:7-14…          

In the busyness and crowded scenes of life, we can get quite frantic and frustrated about meeting our deadlines, timeliness, and perceived needs. Jesus hadn’t given the disciples the details about where they would celebrate Passover. When He does, the directions are so mysterious that they had to have been perplexed. There were hundreds of thousands gathered in Jerusalem for the occasion. How were they going to find this certain man? Of course they were obedient, and of course, it was just as Jesus had said it would be.

It is interesting to see God’s providence in hindsight. Remember, Judas was looking for an opportunity away from the crowd to betray Him. But Jesus knows that He must first eat Passover with His disciples, so He keeps all the details about the location secret.  That way the betrayer will only be able to betray Him after the Passover meal.

Think about the fact that Jesus is infinitely aware of His coming betrayal, trial, suffering, trauma, and death, and yet He is focused on doing God’s will. In this particular instance it is that He worships with His disciples. Jesus will go to great lengths to get you to obey Him in faith and to arrive at the place of worship.

God is orchestrating not only your situation, but all the attendant situations along with it. Remember, the certain man also obeyed the Lord, and from a messenger. Your role in obedience is a key to other things. Yes, God will still get all the things He wants to be done realized, whether we do our part or not. But realize this, your obedience will allow you to see amazing providence. If you are in rebellion, repent, turn and see how God is preparing a place for you. You cannot always trace His hand, but you can always trust His heart. 

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©