It's amazing how often, when reading the Old Testament, I'm reminded of our society today.
Won't those who do evil ever learn?
They eat up my people as if they were eating bread.
They don't call out to God for help.
Just look at them! They are filled with terror
even when there is nothing to be afraid of! (Psalm 53:4-5)
Lord, destroy the plans of sinners. Keep them from understanding one another.
I see people destroying things and fighting in the city. Day and night they prowl around on top of its walls.
The city is full of crime and trouble.
Forces that destroy are at work inside it.
Its streets are full of people who cheat others and take advantage of them. (Psalm 55:9-11)
Are you rulers really fair when you speak?
Do you judge people honestly?
No, in your hearts you plan to be unfair.
With your hands you do terrible things on the earth.
Even from birth those who are evil go down the wrong path.
From the day they are born they go the wrong way and speak lies.
Their words are like the poison of a snake.
They are like the poison of a cobra that has covered up its ears. (Psalm 58:1-4)
Human nature - the same then as now - is what we all struggle with, individually, as families, as communities, and as a society. There are, of course, contributing factors to all the choices people make, which include knowledge or ignorance, teaching of morals or a lack thereof, too much free time or too much work... the list goes on and on. But it all starts with our human nature. Just as our Christian walk, while it includes obeying God, serving Him and others, showing His love to those around us (that list goes on and on as well) all starts with belief. When we believe in Jesus and what he did for us on the cross, when we accept that cleansing and forgiveness of our sins, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are given victory over our human nature, our sinful desires, and ultimately, death. We don't win every battle. We do not always triumph over temptation. But we have the weapons with which to fight the enemy until ultimate victory is achieved. We KNOW in the end that we will be victorious. Isn't that amazing?
In our John passage today, we read about Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. In Menial Service, Bob Deffinbaugh has the following to say:
John wishes us to understand that Jesus washed the disciples’ feet at a time when others would not have been inclined to do so. Jesus was in complete control. Jesus was God’s CEO. When men find themselves in this position, they are tempted to behave very differently: “Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions exercise authority over them’” (Mark 10:42). In spite of who He was; in spite of the fact that all authority had been given to Him, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. In spite of the fact that He could have required men to minister to Him, catering to His every whim, Jesus humbled Himself by washing the feet of His disciples. This was truly an amazing thing! Jesus humbled Himself, knowing that He was soon going to be exalted higher than anyone in all of human history.
If John is emphasizing the fact that Jesus knew all these things, he is at the same time stressing the fact that Jesus washed the feet of His disciples as an expression of His great love for them: “He had loved his own who were in the world, and now he loved them to the very end” (John 13:1b).
The act of washing His disciples’ feet was our Lord’s way of showing them (and us) how much He loved them. Do you remember in chapter 11 when those standing around at the tomb of Lazarus saw Jesus weeping, they remarked, “Look how much he loved him!” (11:36b)? I think John is now saying to his readers, “Look how much He loved us!”
This story of the washing of the disciples’ feet is just like Jesus. It captures the “mind of Christ” in a very practical way. It is this spirit which prompted our Lord to perform the ultimate washing, the washing away of our sins through the shedding of His blood on the cross of Calvary. We, like the disciples, were dirty and defiled, and totally unworthy of His mercy and love. And yet He humbled Himself to cleanse us from sin by His humiliation and suffering on the cross. Have you accepted this washing for yourself personally, or have you, like Peter, sought to push Jesus aside? We must humble ourselves by acknowledging our sin and our need, and the necessity to be cleansed by Him who is without sin—Jesus Christ. May we accept His gracious offer of cleansing, and thus enter into the joy of intimate fellowship with Him.
One final thing I would like you to ponder as I conclude this message. It is a statement that is made necessary by the twisted culture in which we live: Love is not about sex as much as it is about dirty feet. May God give us the grace to wash feet this very day.
The entire sermon, or study, or whatever it is, is very good. I recommend reading it if you have the time.
Happy Thursday!
Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 61-62, 65; John 13:21-38.
3 comments:
So true Miriam. What we truly believe (not what we say we believe) deep down in our minds and hearts completely affects (infects!) our every thought, word and action.
Reading Psalm 55, I ached for David, and for all those who have been betrayed by a close friend. I cannot even imagine how that would feel (thankfully, that has not been something I've experienced to this point).
I love this verse...
Cast your care on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22
One thing that hits me every time in that John passage is this verse....
"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so".... (John 13:3)
So, knowing all this, what does He do as a display of this incredible power and diety? He washes their feet. Utterly amazing!
Great post. Sometimes when I read verses like this one:
3 All of them have turned away.
They have all become evil.
No one does anything good,
no one at all.
I wonder what it would say if they knew the state of society now. Are things as bad as they were then or is it worse now?
Thankfully, all of our sins have been washed away. Amazing.
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