A Servant Heart: Day 4....
John 13:1-11 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
[2] The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. [3] Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; [4] so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist. [5] After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped round him.
[6] He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
[7] Jesus replied, "You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
[8] "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
[9] "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
[10] Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." [11] For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
I love the drama of this passge - the bickering disciples all refusing to do the menial chore, the sight of Jesus bending down and serving his friends, the stunned silence that I always imagine in the room as he goes about it, and maybe the realisation that Jesus is reinforcing the point he made a few days previously when James and John tried to get their mother to secure an advantagous position in the Kingdom.
But as well as the drama it is the simplicity that strikes me - that we will never become too important to serve others. This morning I need to dwell in that thought....
posted by Gordon at
7:56 am
1 Comments:
Serving should be a humble act, done quietly, not one that requires praise from others, or recognition that we have done "good". The image that I have in my head of the passage, is that of the disciples making a song and dance about the act of washing the feet, rather than understanding the reason behind it. Just like often when we serve, we may not understand how we are helping but are doing it in such a way that people can thank us or praise us. Serving doesnt require a thank you. Becoming more like Jesus and receiving his grace should be more than enough gratitude that we can ever receive.
It's easy to say, but as humans we often seek acknowledgement from others. It gives us comfort to know that we have done something good for the day, or that someone else thinks we are a "good" person. I suppose that's what separates us from Jesus. Isn't He just so amazing...
Jen
By
Anonymous, at 7:42 pm
Post a Comment
<< Home