The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – John 13: 1-17 (day seven)

Godincidentally, I was listening to Donald Miller’s podcast, Building a Story Brand, this week, and I  stumbled upon an episode from November with Andy Stanley.  It just so happened that they brought up the foot washing scene from our text this week.

As the story goes, Stanley was given the opportunity to preach at President Obama’s pre-inauguration service in 2013, and Stanley used John 13 as a focal point. He preached that when you realize that you are the most powerful person in the room, Jesus would have you leverage that power for the benefit of the other people in the room.  You (addressing POTUS) need to get down on your knees like Jesus and wash feet.

While I hope that struck a chord with the President, the same message rings true for us in far lesser roles of authority.  As Jesus said, “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”John 13:14

Re:Verse passage – John 13: 1-17 (day five) 

John 13:1b having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

Jesus does many amazing things all in this particular act of love. It was definitely a teaching moment. It was also an empowering moment. But above all, it was an act of love- selfless love. What would cause Him to pause as He continued deeper and deeper into the shadow of the cross? Love.

He is also teaching them so many lessons: no one is above serving, no one is below being served, a pattern for selfless love, Jesus is the source to be able to love like that. 

I wonder if they “got it” while it was happening?  I suspect as they reflected later and realized how close this event was to the crucifixion it made even more of an impact.

This kind of sacrificial love and service points directly to the gospel. Only a gospel transformation of one’s heart and nature can cause us to humbly and lovingly serve others like this. 

Re:Verse passage – John 13: 1-17 (day four)

Simon Peter had a lot to say…more than was recorded in John 13.  Chapter 13 is the beginning of an intimate time of teaching from Jesus to His closest disciples, all on the night prior to His arrest.  As Jesus began to wash the feet of the disciples, Peter refused to let Him wash his feet. He was demonstrating the prideful response of one who believed he could be cleaned on his own. He did not need Jesus’ help.  There was another message Peter was communicating.  When he rejected Jesus’ example of humbly serving others…not wanting Jesus to wash his feet…he was rejecting the thought that he must do the same.  If he approved Jesus serving others, Peter would be forced to practice it himself.

Don’t we often do the same?  Have you ever “adjusted” what Scripture said so it matched up with what you wanted to believe?  Be on guard that you not take a scripture out of context or read something into a scripture that is only truth in your imagination.  Rightly divide the Word of Truth…

Re:Verse passage – John 13: 1-17 (day three)

“He had come from God and was returning to God.” 

It might seem counterintuitive that one of the primary responsibilities of the human creature is to pay close attention to one’s self. Why would a disciple of Jesus do that? Because self awareness and knowledge are key components of the way Jesus lived his life. It was precisely because he knew the areas of his inner life in which he would experience temptation that he could take measures to resist the tempter’s lure. Such self knowledge doesn’t just appear magically. It comes with studied and unflinching introspection. From the Psalmist’s “search me and know me” prayer to Jesus’s frequent times of solitude in the “lonely places”, serious servants of God have always sought to know where they came from, their proper place before the Lord, and where they’re going.

Re:Verse passage – John 13: 1-17 (day two)

If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. vs. 17

“Do you know what I have done to you? vs. 12b

Head and heart knowledge of truth are lived out in application. Jesus has painstakingly gone out of his way in this upper room discourse to educate in words and in deeds what is about to happen, and how the disciples should proceed. There was a very practical response to Jesus’ question: Yes, we understand what you are doing. The proof, however, is in the application. Do you want blessing? The fulfillment of the promise? Then go and do this for others. Find the hurting and bind up their wounds (physical AND spiritual). Seek out the hungry and feed them. Lead and Serve. It must be both. Do you understand what Jesus has done for you? Then go out and do this for others.

Re:Verse passage – John 12:20-37, 42-50 (day seven)

Jesus does two extraordinary turnabouts in this text. They seem out of character and unlike the Jesus we often imagine.  For one, Jesus seems to ignore the Greeks who have asked to speak to him.  He never acknowledges them through this discourse. Then, in verse 36 Jesus hides himself from the unbelievers.

He could have at least spoken to the Greeks or stuck around to try to save some of the unbelievers, both of which seem more noble than this account in John 12.  Why did he leave all of them out in the cold?

We find the answer in verse 27: “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.”

God’s plan rarely includes all the good we think it should.  We think Jesus could have talked to the Greeks or hung around a little bit longer, when, in fact, it was time for Jesus to head towards the cross.  God plans often diverge from our best intentions, and when they do we follow God anywhere and everywhere He goes, even when we have to give up good opportunities.

Re:Verse passage – John 12:20-37, 42-50 (day six)

“…they still did not believe in Him.” John 12:37

Don’t be discouraged. That’s one of the messages of John 12. After all Jesus had done, they still did not believe; His own people rejected Him. Those closest to Jesus had to feel defeated and discouraged. This is why John includes Isaiah 53:1 and 6:10; it serves as a reminder that nothing or no one can thwart the plans of God.

When the seemingly unexpected happens, rest assured it is not out of God’s control. When the whole world seems to be falling apart, do not lose heart. When the church seems to be losing ground, and the world advancing, do not forget God’s promises.

Nothing can stop God.

Re:Verse passage – John 12:20-37, 42-50 (day five) Jesus had hard but honest words for the Greeks.  Same honest and hard words for us.  The christian life is difficult, counter cultural and counter intuitive.  The illustrations He chooses are not the feel-good pictures that would be considered market friendly-  dying like a grain of wheat, hating our life in this world, following Jesus on a path to suffering, and becoming a servant. However, these pictures are not the end of the story.  Jesus also has glorious promises for those that will die, devalue their own life, follow, and serve.  They will bear fruit, find eternal life, be near and close to Jesus, and will be honored by God.

What we learn is that the christian life is not easy, but it is productive,  intertwined with the presence and power of Jesus, and eternal.  Anyone want to live that kind of life (now and in eternity)?