Quote for the Day
“… no servant is greater than his master…”
Today's Prayer
Father, this day allow me to rest in the security of You as my loving and gracious Master.
John 13:1-17
John 13:1-17 (NIV)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 around 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 around 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 realize 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.12 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. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Message
This week we explore a passage that hits deep in the heart of many people: the washing of the disciples’ feet by Jesus. Today we have seen a resurgence of this example in sermons, quotes, retreats, and now even in weddings where the bride and groom express their love and devotion for each other. Jesus told the disciples this was being done for them as an example. Yes, it is an example to live by (being a servant) though sometimes we forget a couple of aspects of this passage.The first is the security of a servant. Jesus desires for us to act like a servant, using His power to love and care for others. What we forget are the BENEFITS of being a servant. A servant has no worries about putting a roof over his head, everything being fully supplied by the master. A servant has no worries about meals and clothes, again all supplied by the master. We do see the example of Jesus’ actions of a servant. We need also to see His POSITION as a servant: He relied solely on the Father for His daily needs. This is the same desire and expectation Jesus and the Father have for us today. We have a position in Christ as believers, and we sometimes forget the benefits that go along with that position. We feel as though we have to work hard to solve the problems associated with life. Jesus has shown us by the way He relied solely on the Father that this is not the case. Christ alone is our strength, NOT merely our source of strength, our ACTUAL strength. When we realize (and allow) our position in Christ to be the rule of our life, life becomes as the Father designed, a life of rest in Him.We will take up the second idea next week.