Tag: servant

FOOT WASHING

One of my favorite Scripture passages is about Jesus washing the feet of His disciples at the Last Supper. It is only shared in John’s Gospel, and his is the only one that does not chronicle the other events of the Last Supper. Something I had not seen before caught my attention this year.

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 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. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.  –John 13:1-17  (NIV)  

 

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Whenever a worship service has a foot washing event, I always want to participate in it. I know people usually do not prefer participating in foot washing. I find it an honor to put myself in Jesus’ presence as a disciple and visualize Him serving me personally because of His great love for me.

 

Why did Jesus wash His disciples’ feet?
*To show His great love for them.
*To demonstrate being a humble servant.
*To symbolize our need for a spiritual cleansing.
*To set forth the principle of selfless service that would be exemplified on the cross.
*To show us what we are to do for others.

 

I never considered the reason “to symbolize our need for a spiritual cleansing” with Jesus’ response to Peter, saying, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” I believe Jesus’ words go beyond the external washing of the disciples’ feet; I believe there is a spiritual cleansing symbolism. This comes from the cleansing in the waters of baptism as well as the cleansing of Jesus’ blood that He shed for us on that first Good Friday. Ultimately, Peter, just like us, needs both spiritual cleansings from Jesus.

 

This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.  –1 John 5:6  (NIV)

 Jesus knew at the foot washing that His time to walk in obedience to God’s plan of salvation for the world through His death on a cross was quickly approaching. He was preparing His disciples for life without Him and teaching them to carry out the mission He began. A spiritual cleansing was necessary in their ministry, just as Jesus experienced. Jesus’ public ministry began with John, His cousin, baptizing Him in the Jordan River and ended with His crucifixion on the cross, when He shed His blood.

 

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Let’s look at the ending of the original Scripture passage:

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. 

Jesus was calling His disciples and us, too, to go forth and follow His example of washing others’ feet. That is why Jesus gave us the example and told us we, too, would be blessed if we walk in obedience.

 

How is God calling you to wash others’ feet?
*By having you pray for and love the person who has hurt you?
*By bringing some necessities to the homeless person you see on the street?
*By sharing the Gospel with someone who does not know the Lord?
*By giving of your time or talent to help someone who is in need?

 

As God works in our lives, I “happened” to pen these thoughts before going to a foot washing event in the evening. It has always bothered me that people usually only wash one foot instead of both. When I participated in the event last year, I felt like it wasn’t complete with only one foot. We know Jesus definitely washed both of His disciples’ feet. This year I found myself slipping both feet in the bowl when it was my turn. It was a sacred encounter when, while washing my feet, the person looked into my eyes and smiled. I saw Jesus’ love for me in his eyes. The person then cupped his hands around my feet as he wrapped the towel around them and kissed one foot. I experienced Jesus’ love embracing me through the holding of my feet. I felt complete and immersed in oneness with the Lord as I closed my eyes and listened to the beautiful music that was being sung. It was a sacred moment with the Lord.

 

Photo courtesy of Stephen Ludwig under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) 

 

Be encouraged this week to see how you can live out…
…loving others with Jesus’ unconditional love.
…how Jesus is calling you to be a humble servant.
…receiving Jesus’ spiritual cleansing of water and His blood.
…following Jesus’ principle of selfless service to others.
…following Jesus’ example of foot washing in others’ lives.

 

A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.  –Luke 7:37-38  (NIV)

LIVING LIKE THE END

If you knew with certainty that you had one week left on this earth, would you be living life any differently? 
Would that knowledge have any impact on what you were doing?

Truthfully, it is a thought that recently occurred to me after learning of a high school classmate of mine passing, as well as a friend’s brother. He was given a few months to live.  My friend was able to spend quality time, the last six weeks of her brother’s life with him and his family, being with them when he passed.

 

It made me ponder Jesus’ life. 

Continue reading “LIVING LIKE THE END”

HUMILITY

This Christmas season one thing that has struck me is thinking about the humility surrounding Christ’s entrance into this world.
From the different definitions, from a quick google search, for the word humility, I like the following definition the best:

the feeling or attitude that you have no special importance that makes you better than others; lack of pride.

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Let’s first take a look at Mary, the mother of Jesus.  In my eyes, I consider Mary to be a woman who exemplifies humility.
We do not hear of her being popular in this world or of high status.
Here she was just a young gal, “…a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.”  –Luke 1:27 (NIV)  
The angel, Gabriel told Mary,  “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”  –Luke 1:35 (NIV)
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.  –Luke 1:38  (NIV)  I think that final response displays humility on Mary’s part. She is trusting God and ready to be a part of His plan.
Mary gave us a powerful example of humility, yet she graciously accepted God’s plan of being the mother of Jesus! She was the humble maid servant of God who through the Holy Spirit birthed our Savior!

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Just as important is to keep in mind the humility of Joseph.
 Upon first hearing that Mary was going to have a child, he did have in mind to divorce her quietly, but when “…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  –Matthew 1:20-21  (NIV), Joseph did what the angel had commanded him to do.
Taking someone to be your wife, when she is pregnant with the Son of God is humility on Joseph’s part. He, too, gave us a powerful example of doing what God tells you to do despite what others may think.
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At Christmas time, I think it is always a blessing to ponder the circumstances of Christ’s birth. Despite being the Savior of the world, He was certainly born in humility!  
How many people do you know were born while their parents were at the end of a three day walking trip back to their home town to register for a census?  “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” –Luke 2:6-7  (NIV)
Imagine giving birth to the Savior of the world in a barn like place and having to place the baby in an animal trough because there were no rooms available!

Jesus was born in the humblest of ways, yet He is the Savior of the world!  Being the Savior of the world is the ultimate success that anyone could experience.

So, this Christmas season, I pray that you ponder the powerful example of humility that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus gave to us over 2,000 years ago.
Let us focus on what we can learn and apply to our lives from their humility yet success in fulfilling God’s plan for their lives and for our sake. And let us lead lives in humility yet successful ways for our loving God!
May you remember the reason for the season….celebrating our Savior and the freedom He has brought us!
Merry Christmas my dear friends!
…God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  –1 Peter 5:5-6  (NIV)
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.  –Matthew 20:16  (NIV)

THE GREATEST SERVANT

I know a man who walked this earth a long time ago. His entire life was spent being a servant—serving everyone in love.

While on this earth, He continually served mankind by physically healing the sick, the lame, and blind—as well as restoring their souls and spirits.

This servant came for everyone. He did not discriminate. In His eyes, no matter how “good” or “bad”, all were equal. His love for each person was unconditional in every way.

His servanthood shone forth even on the night he was betrayed by a friend. He “lowered” himself and washed the feet of His friend with so much love and compassion.

The greatest way in which He served all of mankind was when he was hanging on a cross. This servant bore our sins and infirmities—He endured the suffering, agony, and pain in order to give eternal life to us.

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This man’s life is a perfect guide for living the life of a true servant. May we serve one another in humbleness and love as we follow the example of the greatest servant—Jesus Christ.

…Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave–just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. –Matthew 20:27-28