The Biblical Twilight Zone…

My children got sucked in today by an old black and white television show. The show in question? The Twilight Zone. This morning before going to school, waking up with sleep caked eyes they flipped on the TV and they were drawn in. Not by expensive special effects or famous actors, but a well scripted haunting scenario. My kids journeyed with the characters on the episode identified with the actors as they uncovered a truth so hard to accept…they weren’t on Earth at all…they were someplace else.

To some degree the disciples had to have felt like actors on horrifying episode of the twilight zone. They had just finished their meal and went for a walk with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Imagine their tired eyes, filled stomachs and then Jesus tells them to sit at a place in the garden while He went up just a little further to pray. The effects of good food and the tranquil setting must have taken effect because the gospel of Mark records that Peter, James and John fell asleep instead of the Lord’s command of “keep watch”. They fall asleep, and sleep soundly as Jesus prays earnestly for His Father in Heaven to take the cup from Him (v36). Jesus displays his humanity in this moment, because He understood what needed to take place and His very human nature pleads for it to not take place.

Three times, Jesus comes to them and three times He finds them sleeping on the job. Jesus, in this difficult moment, tells them that they have to stand guard so that they didn’t fall into temptation because the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. (v.38) But because of their deep exhaustion they can’t keep their eyes open. In Jesus’ toughest struggle in his human existence, even beyond his temptation in the wilderness, His hand selected disciples couldn’t support Him in this trial. They fell asleep three times…I don’t believe in numerology but this repetitive notion of three is evident in the crucifixion story. Peter denies Jesus three times, the rooster crowed three times, the disciples including Peter, fell asleep three times and three times Jesus has to wake them up. Jesus in His death and resurrection took the span of three days. Post resurrected Jesus asks Peter how much He loved Him…you guessed it three times.

The Twilight Zone Moment:

After Jesus finishes His prayer conversation with the Father, He awakens His disciples for the last time and says, “Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayers!”(v.42) Here is when their reality is turned upside down. Within this very moment an alternative reality seems to present itself and it strikes literal fear in the disciples. One of their own, Judas enters the scene, and as a sign of identification places a kiss on the cheek of Jesus, as if to say ‘this is the one you want’. Peter’s eyes grow wide in surprise, as does James and John’s. How can this be? Why would Judas do such a thing? He was our brother! They all feel the bottom drop out in their stomach as this new reality sinks in. Peter reaches for his sword…where he got it, the Bible doesn’t say, but he uses it poorly it would seem as he slices off the ear of a servant to the high priest. I don’t think Peter planned to use it, his strike wasn’t premeditated but reactionary instead. This twilight zone will lead to an illegal midnight trial.

One can almost imagine the screen flickering in black and white as the camera zooms in on the actor and an expression of sheer disbelief and horror is magnified as the scenario is unveiled for the first time. This Maundy Thursday ended seemingly in a different dimension for the disciples. Way too much drama, too much loss, too little strength to do anything but sleep, cut off an ear and run away.

Don’t be too quick to judge though, perhaps if we were to place our feet into the disciples’ sandals for a moment without the foreknowledge that we have as we view this story from the outside, would we really have done anything different? Probably not.

Welcome to the Biblical Twilight Zone…Beyond it is another dimension – a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You’re moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You’ve just crossed over into the Biblical Twilight Zone.

March 28, 2013 4

Homeboy vs. Hometown Riot

Isaiah 61:1-2 (NIV)
¹The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, ²to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

Jesus stood in front of those gathered together in the synagogue of His home town and read these words…then, glancing at everyone in the room who were listening he rolled the scroll back up, it was placed in its customary resting place, and he took a seat to teach on the reading. You can almost imagine the crowd gathered there in the synagogue waiting for this fellow resident of Nazareth to speak. What would He say, he’s just a stone cutter’s son, and how much scriptural understanding does He really have? In the back of the sanctuary a person coughed, all eyes trained on Jesus, hanging on expectantly for what He would say.

Then it happens, with scriptural intent Jesus, now seated, looks directly into the faces of the people and fellow teachers and declares; “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” And then He lays it out there in his teaching. He tells them, without flinching or hesitation that every prophet is rejected in their home towns and proceeds to give examples of this through Elijah and Elisha. His meaning strikes the congregation like an audible slap in the face. Since the people of Israel rejected their prophets and continued in their ignorance the prophets went to the gentiles instead.

A fellow Jew takes a step forward and yells in outrage “What are you saying?” “How dare You!” another screams, the color of anger red rising in his face. “Blasphemy” another calls out and is repeated like an echo in a cave throughout the room. The once docile crowd seemingly awakens from its sermoned stupor and like a crashing wave onto jagged rocks at high tide convenes on the cause of their anger – Jesus. And with murderous intent glinting in their eyes, they grab Jesus roughly by His cloak. The roar of anger reverberates off of the columns and ceiling as the crowds of neighbors, townsmen, and even those who had worked with Joseph and his sons including Jesus…they knew Him, and yet they knew nothing. Anger now brimming over like lava from a volcano, the hometown crowd hauls Jesus out with cries of blasphemy and curses. Their intent is to end the guilt and conviction they feel by ending Jesus’ life. But as they approach a nearby cliff, something remarkable happens. Perhaps it’s an unrecorded miracle because no water is turned into wine, nor is someone healed from a sickness, but it’s a miracle nonetheless. The murderous rioters or would be church goers who were intent on killing Jesus aren’t permitted to do the deed! It’s not time yet for Him to die, and this isn’t the place for His ultimate sacrifice.

Instead of falling to His death, Jesus walks through the crowd. Nothing more is said of this event except that He goes on His way (v30). Was Satan involved in this sudden murderous riot? Were the town folk prompted to respond this way by a spiritual battle unseen? Perhaps, but the focus still remains on Jesus here. He walks through the would be murderers from the cliff and continues on this path and mission of teaching, healing and changing lives. This act of the crowd is fulfillment of Christ’s words only moments ago “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.” It wasn’t time yet for His sacrifice for the sins of the world. And so He moves on. Something to ponder here is if this event broke Christ’s heart. Were there tears in His eyes when He walked away from them, from His home? People He had known for years had just attempted to kill Him. His ‘old stomping grounds’ had become a hostile and uninviting place for Him, further reinforcing scripture that “He had nowhere to lay His head…”or call Home anymore. (Matt 8:20)

For us today, we may never face public riots for what we say for the sake of Christ. People might not be attempting to throw us from cliffs. But if we are to be followers and emulators of Christ we too must take bold stands and remain firm in them. Jesus said to His disciples and even now to us, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” (Matt 16:24) In these words speaks of sacrifice, selflessness and purpose beyond our earthly lives. Jesus understood this measure of surrender, his purpose for being here on Earth and He gave himself completely to this task despite being rejected by the hometown crowd…how about you?

What is the measure of your surrender today?

(*My title isn’t meant to offend, please know I reverence Jesus and that of His life, and please don’t misunderstand my intent in the use of ‘Homeboy’)

March 27, 2013 1

Biting at the bit

I am standing over my Barbecue grill,
It’s a thirty degree day outside…
It’s balmy!
I saw a high school kid today
In a tank top and shorts
wading through two feet
Of melting wet, cold snow.
The flames on the grill
Pay no heed to spring’s
Faux weather.
They lick the coals,
Consume its fuel
And singe the burgers

making a hissing sound

singing praises along the way.
I am grilling,
We are biting at the bit…
That boy today,
Me at my grill
The children down
The street who are
Trying out still hibernating
Playground equipment.
Biting at the bit of spring
And by sheer will
Forcing these seasons
To turn itself
Winter’s white blanket
green and flowering
Fields…biting at the bit
And willing this spring to
To open up its doors

once again.

March 27, 2013 1

Treasure: Curses or Blessings?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21)

I can’t help but think of the original movie “Pirates of the Caribbean – The Curse of the Blackpearl” in which Johnny Depp plays Captain Jack Sparrow. His treasure is the Black Pearl and taking his rightful place as its Captain again…His antagonist is Captain Barbossa and the crew have been cursed by a pirate’s treasure so that they can never die but they cannot enjoy the pleasures of life anymore either. Their treasure in life has become their undoing and they are now cursed because of it.

Is it so far fetched to think that earthly treasure can be like this with us as well? No we may not appear as ghosts in the moonlight, but we may be ruled by our treasures. Just flip on the television and consider the numerous commercials that tell us we haven’t truly lived until we have the newest and best telephone, electronic device, car or job. Earthly treasure certainly has its trappings, its lures and its appeal doesn’t it?

Have you heard it said, ‘whatever consumes most of your time will consume you?’ Another word for our treasures could be the word ‘Idol’. If we become consumed with an idol in our lives, it dominates our time, and our attention then does it not take away from the time we should be spending with God? Don’t we see throughout the Old Testament that God is a jealous God who wants us to be completely sold out to Him alone? It literally breaks His heart when his people sell His love for cheap idols of this world that are temporal and will fade away. It’s like having the Hope Diamond yet trading it in for a cubic zirconia ring that was seen the on Home shopping network…it just doesn’t make sense!

Where is your treasure today? Are you investing your time and your passions on the Eternal or the temporal and Earthly? Have you been cursed by your possessions? Consumed by them? Don’t allow earthly treasures that are cheap and temporary to replace the love of God which is perfect, lovely and will last forever!

Truth be told, I have made this mistake countless times, it never pays off. Sure for a time we’re happy with our treasure, but over time it loses its shine and what we thought would bring us happiness leaves us with a vacuum in our hearts…and we’re empty. Eternal treasure will never leave us feeling this way! God will never leave us or forsake us, and His promises are always true, noble and priceless in value!

So what’ll it be? Your shiny new toy that will one day fail you, or God’s Eternal light which shines forever?

Where your treasure is…there your heart is also. Think on these things, and with the words of Jesus, “He who has ears to hear, let Him hear!”

March 25, 2013 1

How I Met Your Mother

How I met your mother.

No it’s not some cheap tag line to rope you into watching episode after episode of fail relationships.

This is truly how I met your mother. I have to thank my roommate in college for initially propelling me in the direction that I took that Spring Break. My roommate had signed up to serve at a Habitat For Humanity service project during Spring Break and I thought perhaps I should try it out as well. I really didn’t want to just lounge around for a week doing nothing, I needed to be busy and so I went to sign up for the Habitat for Humanity mission trip. I was excited, this was to be a great week of working hard and having fun with friends, but it was not to be. I had signed up a little too late and the team I wanted to go on was full up. Instead the campus Chaplin asked me if I would go on a different mission trip. The mission tripe he was proposing for me would be a trip to California to do some work on a Christian summer camp. I didn’t want to go on this trip and I recall being disappointed that I wouldn’t be going with my roommate and IF (a big if) I went I wouldn’t know anyone else on the team. I hadn’t had much luck fitting in at College. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my classes, had some great professors and the occasional co-ed sports events, but I just felt as if I didn’t belong on that campus. I wasn’t too keen on meeting up with the other members of this spring mission’s team and run the risk I would have to spend an entire week with people I just didn’t fit in with.

I gave the proposal some thought and reluctantly told the campus Chaplin that I would be willing to go, it beat staying at home or on campus doing nothing. The only catch is that I would have to raise some funds in order to go…so I began to collect funds from church, and friends, and but I was fearful because the time allotted to raise the money was drastically shortened due to my late addition to the mission team. I remember being over a hundred dollar short, having no money to my name, and thinking I would have to call the Chaplin and tell him thanks but no thanks. Then I received a call from him and he let me know that the rest of the funds were being covered and I should get packed up.

So the day arrived that we were to all meet in the student center on campus for our departing bus ride to the airport. I was still apprehensive of meeting new people; they were all stranger to me. I remember thinking, how will I ever fit in? But I packed up, and made my way to the lobby to wait. I took a cushioned seat that was blue in color that was near a television. As I sat there other team members arrived and also took seats as we all collectively waited for the bus to arrive. A romantic movie was on the smallish box television and I remember partly watching it out of discomfort amidst new people. I can’t remember if I struck up the conversation or the girl sitting next to me did, but we connected with a lot of commonalities and it was simply easy to converse with her. We didn’t stop talking until the bus arrived and even on the bus ride we talked about everything from books we loved to films to music…the conversation flowed simply yet fluidly and didn’t seem to be forced or awkward. It felt good! Part of my fears of fitting in evaporated in those short hours of conversation, from a plane ride to another van ride; we connected all the way and spent much of the week together. Things just clicked…little did I know that in just three short years she would say “yes” to a question that requires a lifetime commitment. It took me a while to woo, partly because school came first for her…not so much with me (but that’s another story).

I’ve heard it said of love that there is no such thing as soul mates…that many people could fit the bill in compatibilities within a relationship…perhaps that’s so…but not for me. Looking back at it now, I can’t help but think that the details of our journey had been preordained. I wasn’t meant to make it on the team that my roommate was leaving with. I don’t feel that it was simply a coincidence that though I was short of funds to make it on this trip someone came in at the last minute and covered the balance. I don’t find it coincidental at all that we connected from the moment we entered the first meeting place of our team. So many coincidences leave me blown away in the realization that we were meant for one another. Things didn’t just ‘fall into place’, things happened for a reason and in this case that reason was for me to meet your mother. And the rest is a sweet and blessed history, not perfect mind you, but it is sweet nonetheless. And in the words of Robert Frost, “And that has made all of the difference!”

March 25, 2013 0

Palm Sunday…Hosanna in the Highest!

The day had arrived for Jesus to announce to the people of Jerusalem just who He was.

His disciples were asked to go ahead of him to collect a donkey and so they did.

When He rode in a on donkey it would symbolize peace, not might, because to do so

He would have needed a Horse to symbolize His power.

Isn’t it interesting how the mightiest son of the One and only God came into the largest city

of God’s people, Israel, and He was rejected? Oh sure that day people gathered and placed

their cloaks on the ground for him and waved palm branches…but in the book of Luke

it records that when the city came into view Jesus wept over it. He then says, “If you…had only know this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you in on every side, they will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls…”(Luke 19:42-44)

Jesus weeps for them because they didn’t get it. They only saw Jesus as a political possibility, another warrior up-riser who could possibly rally the nation to rebel against Roman…but that’s not what Jesus came to do. He came to save everyone from their own sin, it was a much more important assignment than just freeing one nation, His message and purpose was to free the entire world. Jerusalem, and the nation of Israel and its people at that time didn’t get it…they missed the purpose, except for a handful of faithful disciples.

Don’t miss the purpose of Christ in your life today! Palm Sunday isn’t just about people lauding Jesus in the streets, Palm Sunday is the beginning of the recognition of just what Jesus came to do…to set the captives, you and me and everyone else…free!

Let’s boldly shout – “Hosanna in the highest” today and know why we declare His majesty!

March 24, 2013 1

Let it be…for now.

Sometimes logic fails

violence prevails

life…gets lost in the details

Sadness descends

like a thick fog

blurring our vision

obstruction of mission

and solitary admission

is required.

The doldrums of the day

can never compare

to living a peace

despite acceptance

often it evades us

leaves us dejected

rejected and hopelessly

infected with a burdened heart

could we overcome this?

Could we find the light again?

We fumble in the dark

tripping over each other

sister and brother

hurting each other

can we truly overcome this?

One day,

one mighty

and awesome day

this too will be but a dream

and when we wake

the lights will be on.

until then our little ambient

of heart and strength

must be enough

so just let it be!

March 23, 2013 2

Burdens, Purfume & a Woman

Luke 7:44-48 (NIV)
⁴⁴Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” ⁴⁸Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus had been invited to a dinner party of sorts by a Pharisee name Simon. The dinner was just underway when a woman enters the room. She moves quickly because she understands the customs and knows if she doesn’t find Jesus first she will be met with stiff protest and quick eviction from the premises. Kneeling behind Jesus she begins to weep, it’s an odd sight, embarrassing for the host but Jesus, the dinner guest is unfazed. Her momentary gasps for breath amidst her tears breaks the awkward silence in the room. Soon, her tears are flowing rapidly like a swelling river during flood season. Her gasps increase and she is weeping openly at His feet. As each tear falls like salty raindrops she purposely positions herself over Jesus’ feet and allows each drop to fall onto them. His feet are still dusty from the gravely, chalky road and as the moisture from her tears gathers in the crease lines of His feet mud begins to form. The woman bends closer allowing her long hair to touch his feet. Reaching up she uses her hair like a cloth and proceeds to wipe the muddied feet. Then, from her pocket in her cloak she retrieves a small jar of perfume. The smells of food are suddenly replaced with an expensive aroma of perfume. She pours it onto Jesus’ feet and continues to wipe away the remnants of the dust and dirt. Her sobs are now the only sounds within the dining room.

The host; Simon is shocked as the rest of those gathered guests look on in bewildered amazement. This woman, known by the community for her tarnish reputation is at a Teacher’s feet…such things should not be, and yet Jesus does nothing to stop her. Instead Jesus looks at Simon and tells Him a short story. “There were two people who both owed a debt to a moneylender. One owed five hundred silver pieces, while the other owed fifty.” Jesus pauses as he glances from the woman back to Simon again, the light of the room reflecting in his eyes dances to the light of the flame. “Neither one of the debtors had the resources to pay back the debt to the moneylender.” Jesus continues to say, “but a remarkable thing happens, when the moneylender realizes neither one of them could repay the debt back, he cancels the debt.” Again Jesus glances up from the woman and looks Simon directly in the eyes again as he ask most important question Simon will hear all night, “Which of the two people owning the moneylender money will be the most thankful for the debt cancelation?” Simon doesn’t waste any time as he responds with confidence, “I imagine the person who owed the most would be the most thankful!” Jesus nods in agreement and looks down at the distraught woman still wiping his feet with her hair and say to Simon, “You see this woman who has disrupted your dinner party? She comes with much to forgive, you, Simon didn’t wash my feet when I enter and here she is washing my feet now.” Simon sits pensively as he listens. Jesus continues, “When I entered your home you did not greet me with a kiss which is customary, yet this woman has not stopped kissing my feet since she entered the room.” Silence falls on the room again as all who hear Jesus’ words chews on them like a piece of fatty grizzle. “Isn’t it remarkable?” Jesus asks, “She has been forgiven for a many sins today! She has found love and is reciprocating this great love to me even now!” Then Jesus speaks directly to the woman for the first time with kindness and more respect than anyone in the town had ever given her and her less than perfect reputation; “Woman, your sins are forgiven…” how could such a thing be the others wonder to themselves? “She was a sinful woman was she not? Who was this man that can forgive sin?” The other dinner guests and Simon, the host, murmur and grumble together. Yet Jesus ignores them and continues to speak to the woman at His feet with love and care; He tells her, “Your faith has saved you this day, now go in peace!”

What a moment for that woman! She came seeking forgiveness, she came with such a debt that she couldn’t possibly repay, and Jesus canceled the debt and gave her life again! Imagine the heavy burden that must have been lifted as soon as she got up from His feet? Can’t you envision her moving a little lighter as she makes her way home? Perhaps she sleeps heavier than she has slept in a very long time that night! Those in her household and those that know her well would have seen a drastic change her attitude and lifestyle! It all came about because Jesus allowed her to weep at His feet and to find forgiveness in this humbling act. Oh that we too may kneel at His feet and find such sweet deliverance! Whether you have much to be forgiven for or very little, seek Jesus, kneel before Him with a penitent heart and find your debts of sin canceled!

“Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Calvary, Calvary

Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very Near!”

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
²⁸“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

March 22, 2013 1

Peeling Stickers and Gaining Freedom

I am a rubric’s cube champion! I can solve a rubric’s cube in my own time and my own method. Let me explain my method.

Many years ago I was given my first Rubric’s cube and began that very day to attempt to place each frustrating colored cube into the right sequence to match them all up. I tried turning the columns this way at that to find success..I would make a turn only to realize I have been going around and around making the same mistakes, actually repeating the same sequential turns which turn into repeated bad habits. When it was all said and done I was a stubborn fool going round and round doing the same things which were not leading me anywhere near success in solving the colored cubed problem. I recall many times tossing it aside in frustration and vowing never to pick it up again only to break that vow countless times.

I had all but given up, then I had a bright idea…it was one of the older rubic’s cube models and because it was older, the colored squares that made up the cube were actually stickers glued into place.

HERE’S WHY IM A CHAMPION:
I had this bright idea, I would solve this cube puzzle by my own methods…and so I proceeded to peel off the first sticker, then another, then another…I peeled off all of the stickers and then re-assembled the pieces until there in front me was a completed rubric’s cube puzzle all uniformly placed in color coordination. I was now a rubric’s cube champion…in my own mind that is.

Okay confession time, truth be told I admit that I cheated…but I did solve the problem, just with my own method and my own out of the box idea.

WHAT AM I TRYING TO SAY?
Life is like one big Rubric’s cube sometimes. No matter where we go, turn we take, we keep making the same mistakes and the same stubborn wrong decisions. It is said that doing the same thing over and over again is complete and utter insanity…so we must all be insane sometimes. Truth be told we live in a fallen world and we are a fallen people. The Bible teaches us this. Yet over and over again we play the game of life and think we’re on a healthy path then make decisions or encounter the consequences of prior decisions and we end up right back at the place in which we started from. Life can become utter insanity when we live like this. We go round and round, vowing to live better, make better decisions, to be good people…then our actions or our attitudes and our habitual lifestyles get the best of us once more…we become frustrated, tired, worn out, and we just want to throw our hands up and just quit.

Jesus came into this world and proved that the Law wasn’t God. Jesus came into this world and illustrated for us that the Law that people had added to and Pharisees regulated couldn’t be kept…God’s children were going round and round, making sacrifice after sacrifice in order to compensate for their habitual life style that had them going round and round in circles. Jesus came to break that cycle of sin. Jesus busted the game of sin, peeled the stickers (so to speak) off of the lives of humanity and reset them through the shedding of His blood on the cross. He set us free from the cycle and from certain death…because we could not solve this puzzle of life which is Holiness in and of ourselves.

Jesus wants to peel the stickers off of your life and reset them for you today…will you allow him to do this for you? God’s object is to free us…will you let Him?

(My apologies to those avid Rubric solvers out there…It’s just an epiphany that struck truth in my life today!)

March 20, 2013 0

A basin of water and some dirty feet

The Passover feast was almost upon them when it happened. It would be something that would completely catch the disciples off guard and teach them a valuable lesson that they would never forget. Jesus gets up from the table that He had just been sitting at with His disciples. All eyes are on Jesus, the disciples were probably thinking to themselves, “now what?” Then a peculiar thing happens, Jesus takes off His outer garments, wraps a towel around his waist and pours water into a basin. At this point the disciples had to have been inquisitively looking at Jesus and probably glancing at one another as if to say; “What is He up to here?” After the water is brimming over the basin, Jesus scoops it up and moves back toward the table again.

As He approaches his students, those who had witnessed countless wonders and miracles, He kneels down in front of them. How strange it must have been to have witnessed such a sight. The same Jesus, who had calmed a storm, walked on water, raised the dead to life and healed the sick, was kneeling at the feet of his pupils. The mighty teacher, God’s one and only Son who was present at the beginning of creation, was now kneeling in front of His creation. It boggles the mind, blows the roof off of any teaching before or since. Jesus, Messiah, Savior of the World, kneels and begins to wash the feet of His disciples. I wonder how Judas must have felt when Jesus looked up into his eyes and proceeded to wash his feet despite what Jesus already knew would transpire? The room is as silent as a tomb as the disciples struggle to find words in such a solemn moment. All is silent that is until Jesus moves onto the next disciples’ feet which just so happens to be Peter’s. The silence is broken with a protest like a stone to a window, as Peter questions Jesus. “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Such an odd question to consider as Jesus kneels there in front of him with water at hand. It’s a protest of sorts, there’s a hint of outrage in Peter’s voice which is inflected in his tone. Then Jesus says to him, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” But Peter is sure he understands and he just can’t allow his Rabbi to touch his dirty feet and responds likewise, “you shall never wash my feet.” It’s more than just honor or pride in his response; it is love and a deep profound respect for his Savior. The very one that caught his hand as he was sinking in his failed attempt to walk on water was now desiring to apply water to feet. This was the job of a servant and Peter considered this far beneath his Master. Then Jesus looks Peter in the eye again and says to him, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” Understanding still lagging, Peter says, “then Lord wash all of me…” But Jesus tells him that he is already clean and proceeds to drive home his point as He tells them to be a leader they must first be servants and also wash each other’s feet.

In order to follow Christ we must first be servants. Jesus laid down His life for us and He asks us to daily serve others with the same humility that He displayed for us in moments just like this one. To wrap the towel around our waist and wash some dirty feet, without fanfare or notoriety but simply to serve and to display His godly love to those we encounter. This is simply amazing! “no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” –Luke 13:16,17

March 19, 2013 0

Author: Pastor'sPonderings