March 3, 2017
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Reading along with us in John? Here’s today’s reading:
John 13 (ESV)
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”… Continue Reading
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Jesus washes the disciples’ feet . . . Lord, do you wash my feet? (John 13:6)
Jesus goes on to explain: “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” (John 13:12-15)
What an amazing picture of humility and servanthood from our Lord. Jesus not only humbled Himself to be one of us, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8)
Then we read the culmination of the message of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet in John 13:34-35, “Love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Help me to love like this, Lord.
I’m so thankful for the accountability I’m experiencing here. I’ve not picked up my Bible to read since a week ago, as the distractions have been many. Knowing there are others reading and sharing here has been keeping me “awake” to my hunger for God’s Word.
This morning, I ate and drank from Scripture, reading Isaiah 1:1-31, and received a stark reminder of what is happening in the world, in America, in the church, and in our own hearts. What a picture of the state of man, “offspring of evildoers,” “weighed down with iniquity,” having disregarded his Creator. Worse: those in that state who once walked with the Lord and have now turned away, rebelling against Him, chasing after worthless idols and disregarding the call of God to be consecrated and set apart to Him. Even worse, because of the danger of self-deception: those who believe “going through the motions” satisfies and delights God.
“So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you.” (Isaiah 1:15)
Judgment is at hand. God is calling us to repent and turn — or return — to Him now, today. Soon, very soon, there will be no turning back!
God’s love: “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” (Isaiah 1:18-20)
Father, please forgive me for allowing the distractions of this world to steal my attention and affections from You, even for a moment. Give me boldness and courage to warn others of Your coming judgment, and to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
These chapters in the upper room are so powerful….”Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God….” 13:3 I pray with that power in me, at least similar to what was in Jesus, that I too would see other’s need and serve in whatever way necessary. To think of the pressure Jesus was under and the understanding had in spite of that. Always teaching what was needed to benefit others rather than focusing on Himself.
How fitting that I would come to John 13 on this day…
John 13 tells the account of Jesus’ final night with His disciples before His crucifixion. In this chapter of the gospel, Jesus washes His disciples’ feet, and says, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:14-15)
I researched foot washing in Biblical times, and this article opened my eyes to just how humble Jesus’ act was: http://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/washing-of-feet.html
1) “In the case of ordinary people, the host furnished the water, and the guests washed their own feet, but in the richer houses, the washing was done by a slave. It was looked upon as the lowliest of all services.”
2) “Their pride, heightened by the anticipations of place in the Messianic kingdom whose crisis they immediately expected, prevented their doing this service for each other. Possibly the same pride had expressed itself on this same evening in a controversy about places at table. Jesus, conscious of His divine dignity and against Peter’s protest, performed for them this lowliest service. His act of humility actually cleansed their hearts of selfish ambition, killed their pride, and taught them the lesson of love.”
I remember the scene where Jesus is in the home of a Pharisee, and a woman enters the home, kneels down, wets Jesus’ feet with her tears (Luke 7:36-50), and wipes them with her hair right in front of everyone.
So much to pray about here…