Scripture:

John 13:

14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

Observation:

Jesus models what it means to serve by washing the feet of his disciples.  In response he encourages them to do the same for others.

Application:

Jesus models for the disciples what true servanthood looks like then… bam… Judas and Peter. It would be easy to pick on Judas and Peter but I’m not going to do that. The entire chapter is a telling dichotomy on service and betrayal and I guess that is where I spend a lot of my life.

Caught between the two.

I want to serve like Jesus but when the opportunity comes I often in a sense deny my affiliation with Jesus. Serving someone is one thing…serving them in Jesus name is quite another.  Serving is good… it’s what we should do… but eventually someone has to stand up and speak the name of Jesus. Otherwise… we are denying the one in whose name we serve.

This is the Heart of Christ to his disciples before he goes to the Cross.  (what is called the “upper room discourse”) This in a sense is Jesus’  “Wake”… It begins with the washing of the disciples feet… and ends with Jesus prayer for himself, the disciples, and us.  These next 5 chapters are the Heart of Christ to you and I…and it begins with this simple act of service and an encouragement for us to do the same…in his name!

Prayer:

Jesus you modeled for me what serving others is supposed to look like. When the opportunity comes I pray I will be able to stand up for you and not turn away. Boldly speaking your name to those I serve.  I pray in Jesus name, Amen.

1. markseekins posted this