Apicontent

“So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table again and said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me “Teacher” and “Lord,” and do so correctly, for that is what I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example—you should do just as I have done for you. I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.’” —John 13:12–17

As believers in Jesus, we are under an obligation to follow the example of our Master. What Christ has done we should not think beneath us. Our freedom in Christ was never meant to be a license for laziness and self-indulgence. The goal of freedom in Christ is loving service.

In the New Testament we read:

“The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.” —1 John 2:6

Jesus tells us:

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you 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 20:25–28

As followers of Jesus, it is our obligation to follow His example. The loving pattern Jesus demonstrates to us by the example of His life is the best way for every human. This is not legalism, but love. And when we begin to act according to His example, through the power of the Holy Spirit, our actions often turn from being motivated by duty to being motivated by desire. 

“To love God, to serve Him because we love Him, is … our highest happiness … Love makes all labor light. We serve with enthusiasm where we love with sincerity.” —Hannah More

In our verses for today, Jesus gives us the promise that obedience to our knowledge of the truth will always be blessed. Knowledge can be a very funny thing.

Paul reminds us:

“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” —1 Corinthians 8:1

Nothing is more common than for one to sit, soak … and sour regarding the teaching of God’s Word. Professing to know the truth yet remaining in disobedience, people seem to flatter themselves in thinking that there is something redeeming and credible in knowledge while they remain barren of fruit in heart or character. Sadly, to know what we ought to do and what we ought to believe and what we ought to be, yet remain unaffected by this knowledge, only adds to our guilt in the sight of God. Where much has been given, much is expected. We who live in a world inundated with Bibles and commentaries and sermons and churches and more Biblical resources than one can imagine should pay particular attention. Unfortunately, we oftentimes are careless and indifferent to what has been graciously given to us.

Become More

Obeying Jesus is the very life of our relationship with God. We will never truly be happy in our Lord’s service if we are content with only head knowledge of duty. Doctrinal orthodoxy apart from practical love and humility is worthless before God. We shrink the Holy Spirit within us through our lack of willing obedience. God does not force our obedience; we always have a choice.

“In the kingdom of God, service is not a stepping stone to nobility. It is nobility.” —T. W. Manson

Further Reflections

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” —Galatians 5:13–14

“So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.” —James 4:17

“The end of learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love Him and imitate Him.” —John Milton

“Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself. He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.
“Then he came to Simon Peter. Peter said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus replied, ‘You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand after these things.’ Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet!’ Jesus replied, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.’” —John 13:3–9

Well aware of His own sovereign authority, origin, and coming destiny, Jesus provides for His disciples (and for all of us as well) a wonderful example of servant leadership. And yet, He humbled himself to perform the most menial task. Believers comfortable in their own skin—knowing who they belong to, knowing their lives are filled with purpose and power and hope, knowing they are fully loved and accepted, have no trouble grasping the great truth of Scripture that whoever desires to be great must be a servant. Those most highly esteemed in God’s kingdom are those who serve, those who willingly humble themselves.

Jesus has shown us true servanthood and has paved the way for our obedience. He is our great teacher of lowliness of heart, stripping off one glorious robe of honor after another until we find Him naked on a cross pouring out His lifeblood for each one of us. How then do we dare to be proud? Paul tells us in Philippians:

“You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbles himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even on a cross!” —Philippians 2:5–8

We care so much about what others think. Even churches and ministries often worry about how they are perceived. We often rate our success or failure on the approval and accolades of other people. I doubt seriously if Mother Teresa began her ministry caring for the poorest of poor on this earth in Calcutta with the Nobel Peace Prize in mind. She was simply humbly serving her Master by stopping to love and care for those who could not help themselves—and it was the Lord who exalted her.

Our confidence rests in the fact that Christ is genuinely concerned about us. He is aware of all we are going through and has promised the grace sufficient to meet each need. He loves us and desires for us to fulfill His purposes!

“For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.” —Ephesians 2:10

To Peter’s credit, his opposition to Jesus’ act of servitude was motivated by humility. What he couldn’t accept was the reversal of the roles the Lord appeared to be initiating. Peter was the servant and Jesus was his Master. He had seen His Master’s hands heal the leper and restore sight to the blind. He had seen Jesus raise the dead and believed Him to be the Son of God … and now Jesus stoops to wash the feet of His disciples? Peter should be the one washing the Lord’s feet! It was a paradox beyond his comprehension. Yet Jesus’ purpose in this act of service was to teach a great spiritual lesson to His disciples and to all of us as well.

We all are in need of cleansing and renewal to remain in fellowship with God. We sin, we fall, we break fellowship, we humbly repent, and we are then restored. This is not regarding our salvation, rather our abiding fellowship with Him.

“In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.” —1 Peter 5:5–7

Become More

Nothing eternal is ever accomplished in the flesh. When our fellowship with God is broken through sin, we, unfortunately, begin to operate in ways that seem right in our own eyes. Jesus tells us that apart from Him we can do nothing.

Jesus silences Peter’s objections telling Peter that he has a lack of understanding. Peter’s vision was veiled, yet later he would comprehend. How often that happens to us as well. Our vision is blurred by our circumstances and we raise objections regarding God’s best for our lives. Often, like Peter, we oppose what we do not understand. It is only through our willing obedience that our eyes will be open to more of His ways. Never forget, Christ’s way is supremely the best way.

“O God, never suffer us to think that we can stand by ourselves, and not need Thee.” —John Donne

Further Reflection

“But Jesus called them and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you 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.’” —Matthew 20:25–28

“Just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that his time had come for him to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end.” —John 13:1

Our Lord’s appointed “time” was nearing. His death and resurrection were now imminent and He was readying for His departure home. We find Him telling His disciples this a little later in John:

“I came from the Father and entered the world; but in turn, I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” —John 16:28

In Christ’s incarnation, He came from the Father. In Christ’s humiliation, He uncloaked His glory, entered this world, and subjected Himself to the despising of those He came to save. He further humbled Himself by taking upon His sinless body the full chalice of God’s wrath against every sin committed by man—past, present, and future. By having these sins nailed to a cross and bearing the full weight of them upon His body, He lovingly provided a way for all humankind to regain access to God. Every evil deed, every act of gross vileness, every sinful word spoken, every slight, every selfish act He bore upon His perfect flesh. Therefore, in Christ’s exaltation, He was resurrected and ascended back to His Father’s side in all glory. Praise His name! 

I am reminded of Paul’s words to the Philippians:

“You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing the human nature He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on the cross! As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” —Philippians 2:5–11

In our verses for today, knowing His time on earth is almost over, Jesus is about to show His disciples that true love for others is shown through selfless serving.

Biblical love is defined for us in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians:

“Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” —1 Corinthians 13:4–6

Jesus was patient with His disciples, bearing with their weaknesses and never taking away His lovingkindness from them. Though He reproved them, He never removed His love from them and they remained in His constant care and concern. He rejoiced when they “got it.” He protected them; had high hopes for them; persevered to the end with them; He served them. He perfectly demonstrated Biblical love to His closest companions. This remains true of His disciples today. Jesus has a never-ending love for those that are His own. Nothing can separate the believer from the love of Jesus.

Become More

“What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 8:31–39

Further Reflections

In what ways are you showing God’s love to those around you?

“Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one loved.” —Thomas Merton

“Now on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples said to him, ‘Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?’ He sent two of his disciples and told them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, “The Teacher says, ‘Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’” He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.’ So the disciples left, went into the city, and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.” —Mark 14:12–16

In these verses we find Jesus continuing to do the miraculous even as He approaches His death. Describing to His disciples in exact detail what they will discover as they prepare for the Passover, Jesus proves yet again His omniscience. Jesus gave His disciples step-by-step directions, teaching them to depend on God’s specific plan. Our God has all knowledge and all control of the future. 

These verses in Mark remind me of a passage in Isaiah:

“Remember this, so you can be brave! Think about it, you rebels! Remember what I accomplished in antiquity! Truly I am God, I have no peer; I am God, and there is none like me, who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, ‘My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire.’” —Isaiah 46:8–10

This is an important lesson for us as well! We are told in Proverbs:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.” —Proverbs 3:5–6

Human wisdom at its best is flawed. When we lean on our own understanding, disregarding the Lord’s way, we will not experience God’s best. His way is so far above our own; it is like playing in the sandbox when we could be running on the beach!

“‘Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds,’ says the LORD, ‘for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans.’” —Isaiah 55:8–9

“’For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the LORD. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope. When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers. When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul.’” —Jeremiah 29:11–13

It is no wonder, therefore, that King David pleaded with the Lord as he waited for God’s deliverance:

“Teach me how you want me to live, LORD; lead me along a level path because of those who wait to ambush me!” —Psalm 27:11

Wales Goeble wrote:

“We as Christians know that faith is taking God at His Word. And we realize that faith does not get us around our problems, but it gets us through them. Such a promise is found in Psalm 48:14, ‘For this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to death.’ His promise then is no matter how difficult we may find life to be, He will guide us all the way home. Isaiah 42:16: ‘And I will bring the blind by a way they know not. I will lead them in paths that they have not known.’ This is the way God leads His own. You and I are blind to the future, but He is not, and He has promised to lead all who will put their trust in Him. Sometimes, because our circumstances are totally out of our control, we not only have to believe these promises, but we must put them to the test.”

Become More

God is always working in our behalf—always for our ultimate good and His glory.

“God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.” —Hudson Taylor

“O God, never suffer us to think that we can stand by ourselves, and not need Thee.” —John Donne

“And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” —Romans 8:28

Further Reflections

“Whoever desires to do the will of the Lord, and prayeth earnestly for instruction, shall certainly know his will. But he must not be wise in his own conceit, nor lean to his own understanding, nor expect that the wisdom or learning of this world will explain the things of God.” —K.H. Von Bogatzky

“We must have a continual regard for God’s providence, must depend on it in all our affairs, both by faith and prayer. We must therefore trust in the Lord with all our hearts; we must believe that he is able to do what he wills, wise to do what is best, and good, according to his promise, to do what is best for us, if we love him, and serve him.” —Matthew Henry

“Then the day for the feast of Unleavened Bread came, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover for us to eat.’” —Luke 22:7–8

The critical and decisive point of Jesus’ life had arrived and He tells His closest disciples to “Go and prepare.” Why is it that oftentimes we do not take advantage of the opportune moment? For me, the critical moment is when I am asked about my faith and I stumble and trip over my words leaving my listener with no greater understanding of who Jesus is. Sometimes I miss an opportunity to teach the truth to my children because of my all too important busyness—robbing me of intimacy in my family life. I am sure that you can name your own ways of not making the most of every opportunity. 

The Bible tells us:

“Therefore consider carefully how you live—not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is.” —Ephesians 5:15–17

Have you noticed that many times we just get one chance? Some opportunities only present themselves one time. While Paul tells us we are not to dwell on the past losses or mistakes, we are to strain toward what is ahead in this race called life:

“Not that I have already attained this—that is, I have not already been perfected—but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead, I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let those of us who are ‘perfect’ embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways. Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard that we have already attained.” —Philippians 3:12–16

Let’s be honest, the greatest gift in human history was about to be accomplished for mankind and the disciples were unaware. The prophets had foretold it, Jesus had spoken plainly to His closest confidants about it, and still, the disciples were, for the most part, unprepared.

I am reminded of Jesus’ appearance to two of His followers after His resurrection as they walked along the road to Emmaus. Unaware that it was Jesus, they were disappointed and confused:

“Now that very day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. While they were talking and debating these things, Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them (but their eyes were kept from recognizing him). Then he said to them, ‘What are these matters you are discussing so intently as you walk along?’ And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have happened there in these days?’ He said to them, ‘What things?’ ‘The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,’ they replied, ‘a man who, with his powerful deeds and words, proved to be a prophet before God and all the people; and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. Not only this, but it is now the third day since these things happened. Furthermore, some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back and said they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.’ So he said to them, ‘You foolish people—how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things written about himself in all the scriptures.” —Luke 24:13–27

It is important that we pay attention to the right things in order to see what God has for us!

“If you wish to know God, you must know his Word. If you wish to perceive His power, you must see how He works by his Word. If you wish to know His purpose before it comes to pass, you can only discover it by His Word.” —C.H. Spurgeon

Become More

“Our God is a God who not merely restores, but takes up our mistakes and follies into His plan for us and brings good out of them.” —J. I. Packer

Further Reflections

“Real trust in God is above circumstances and appearances.” —George Muller

“We mustn’t doubt in the darkness what God has shown us in the light.” —Robert J. Morgan

“Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. The chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find some way to execute Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve. He went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard how he might betray Jesus, handing him over to them. They were delighted and arranged to give him money. So Judas agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus when no crowd was present.” —Luke 22:1–6

Even though the chief priests and teachers of the law were looking for a way to kill Jesus, they were paralyzed by their fear of the people. The word translated “afraid” in verse two actually means “to put in fear, terrify and frighten; to cause to run away fearful and afraid” (Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible—New Testament Lexical Aids).

Sounds to me like these guys were afraid of the wrong thing—better to fear God than man! We find this truth expressed so well in Acts:

“And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Whether it is right before God to obey you rather than God, you decide, for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.’” —Acts 4:18–20

Peter also said in the next chapter of Acts:

“We must obey God rather than people!” —Acts 5:29

Proverbs tells us that we are not to be fearful of man:

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” —Proverbs 9:10

“The fear of people becomes a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD will be set on high.” —Proverbs 29:25

God places His people in a position of testimony—giving us an opportunity to proclaim how He has been kind to us, the deeds He has done, and the compassion that He has shown us. We are not to be intimidated by those around us—the glory of the Lord is worth more than the approval of people! To tremble or be fearful of human approval will inevitably be a noose around our necks luring, ensnaring, and entangling us into sin. In pleasing people over God, we are asking for sure trouble. We are to be faithfully following the way of Jesus, boldly teaching His truth in love through our actions and through our words. 

In our verses for today, we find Judas, one of the twelve, sadly selling his soul for mere silver. And yet, Jesus, knowing exactly who would betray Him, treated Judas no differently than his other disciples—even to the point that all of them questioned who Jesus was referring to when He told them one would betray Him:

“When he had said these things, Jesus was greatly distressed in spirit, and testified, ‘I tell you the solemn truth, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples began to look at one another, worried and perplexed to know which of them he was talking about.” —John 13:21–22

Become More

Nothing takes Jesus by surprise. Great is God’s mercy, love, and faithfulness through Jesus. Follow Him!

“There is a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea.” —Frederick William Faber

Further Reflections

“Never, for fear of feeble man, restrain your witness.” —C.H. Spurgeon