The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 13:14-15,
"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."
At the evening meal at Passover, Jesus took the servant's task of washing his disciple's feet. In those days travel was usually accomplished by foot. Due to the sandals worn in the day, a person's feet would pick up the dust and dirt accumulated by the walk. It was the servant's chore to wash the feet of the family and their guests as they arrived. This menial task that a servant would normally perform was done by Jesus for his disciples. So lowly a chore, Peter initially refused the Lord. However, following Peter's protest, Jesus told him if he didn't wash him, Peter would have no part with him. (This being a reference to the task Jesus would perform for Peter, as well as the rest of us, to take the penalty of our own sins upon himself so that we might inherit eternal life.)
Jesus' point was to express his desire, as well as his expectation, that his followers would serve one another. The driving force behind the concern is that the Lord had decided he would gift each one of us with abilities to meet the needs of one another. In this way believers would grow in unity and in community with one another, facilitating the Lord's purposes in each of our lives.
"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."
At the evening meal at Passover, Jesus took the servant's task of washing his disciple's feet. In those days travel was usually accomplished by foot. Due to the sandals worn in the day, a person's feet would pick up the dust and dirt accumulated by the walk. It was the servant's chore to wash the feet of the family and their guests as they arrived. This menial task that a servant would normally perform was done by Jesus for his disciples. So lowly a chore, Peter initially refused the Lord. However, following Peter's protest, Jesus told him if he didn't wash him, Peter would have no part with him. (This being a reference to the task Jesus would perform for Peter, as well as the rest of us, to take the penalty of our own sins upon himself so that we might inherit eternal life.)
Jesus' point was to express his desire, as well as his expectation, that his followers would serve one another. The driving force behind the concern is that the Lord had decided he would gift each one of us with abilities to meet the needs of one another. In this way believers would grow in unity and in community with one another, facilitating the Lord's purposes in each of our lives.
Additionally, as a community of believers living in harmony with one another, a greater impact for the gospel enterprise would further the Lord's agenda for us all in this age as he builds his family for eternity. "I [Jesus] pray also for those who will believe in me through their [his disciple's] message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." John 17:20-21. Unity in community is key to impacting the world for Jesus Christ and his message of redemption. "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:22-23.
No wonder the devil expends so much energy on keeping the church divided!
The gifts given us through the Holy Spirit that we are to serve one another with are mentioned in passages like "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10.
The designs of the Lord are always beautiful things. A community of believers, loving one another and serving one another with a view toward building up that community as well as having an impact on the surrounding world for the Lord is simply breath-taking to consider. Who would not want to be a part of a movement like that?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No wonder the devil expends so much energy on keeping the church divided!
The gifts given us through the Holy Spirit that we are to serve one another with are mentioned in passages like "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10.
The designs of the Lord are always beautiful things. A community of believers, loving one another and serving one another with a view toward building up that community as well as having an impact on the surrounding world for the Lord is simply breath-taking to consider. Who would not want to be a part of a movement like that?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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