It is hard for me, as I meditate on the presence of the Lord and meeting with Him. It is hard for me to imagine the perfection and beauty of the Lord meeting me in my imperfection in a world which is broken.
”Ian, to understand and make sense of these thoughts you have been having you need to remind yourself of your new identity. The moment your eyes were opened to me you were taken into Jesus. Now your identity is no longer in yourself but in Jesus. So when you feel you are failing, I see not your failures but Jesus because He surrounds you and gives you your identity. Yes you need to and are continually growing more and more like Jesus through his Spirit and by His grace but your identity is constant. I see Jesus when I see you. I continually wash your feet to cleanse that part of you that is being contaminated by the world, but that does not reflect your identity. Your new identity was given you when I first washed the whole of you”.
We come today to a well known story that happened at the beginning of Passion week – where Jesus is described washing the disciples feet. John 13:1-17. It is easy to switch off when we read a passage like this while thinking we’ve heard it so often However I believe it is an extremely important passage, placed strategically to set the whole scene of what the Christian life is to be like. What must characterize it.
In Mark’s gospel the same teaching is taken up in one verse also placed at this time in Jesus’ life. “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42,43.
So as you read it let your imagination go. See the group of disciples with smokey lamps lighting the room, the smell of unwashed bodies and the lamp oil mixing with that of the food. The disciples would have been sitting on cushions on the floor with their feet extended behind them.
Now read the introduction in vs 1. Jesus knowing His time had come wanted to show His disciples the full extent of His love. Now notice the second part of the next vs. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power ……….. This act that is described must be seen against those two statements. The most powerful being, God Himself in human form who could have done anything on earth that he wanted, chose to demonstrate His love by washing the disciples’ feet. The most menial task, dirty travel-worn feet. No convenient baths and showers. Jesus bends down with water and a cloth and commences to wash each disciple’s feet. Notice, even Judas’ feet. The one through whose absolute betrayal was the first step to His horrible death.
Do you want to be important in the kingdom of heaven? Get down and start washing feet. Not necessarily literally but symbolically in your daily walk as you emulate Jesus’ statement in Mark “I did not come to be served but to serve”. Now read vv 14-17. That is exactly the instruction Jesus gives to His disciples. Wash one another’s feet. But more go out and wash the feet of every one whom you would serve.
In His enthusiasm Peter of course gets it wrong at first. “No please wash me completely”. Then Jesus adds the rider which is so important. I have already washed the whole of you. Well, washing feet in the kingdom, with the right motive should always flow out of a relationship with Jesus which was launched when we first encounter Christ and receive His forgiveness and Spirit, symbolically being washed all over as He cleanses and forgives us. It is not a way to win your membership to the kingdom.
Why do we call it a “service” when we meet on Sunday at the church? That is the opportunity for us to practise our service, but it should not end there it should go everywhere we go during the rest of our time. Unfortunately I do believe that there are many who get this order wrong and believe by going to a service and learning to serve is the way into the kingdom. We all know that is the wrong order, but there are many who don’t understand that.
Se friends go and serve. There is no better way than that to enjoy your life of abundance in Jesus. See the last vs in this section: “Now that you know these things you will be blessed if you do them” vs 17.
See you all next week again.
” Whoever would be first among you must be slave of all” Mark 10. 44.How unfathomable blessed we are as believets in Christ! Our Holy Lord is so majestic, completely self – sufficient, full of power and life! Christ glorious Himself by being a servant. Christ wants us to understand, how He can serve us. This sets Christianity apart from allother religions. We are serving a Holy Lord who wants us to learn how He can serve us in His overflowing grace, love and power. There are no words how to express my gratitude. Let us glorify our Holy Lord by trusting Him with our whole heart @ All Glory, power, dominion and authority be to our Holy Lord forever and ever 🙏 Amen
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Some readers may wonder, but my heart is overflowing with the good news ( this is an understatement) of the Gospel of Christ. I need to share it. I cannot remain silent.