Tuesday, April 28, 2015

The Servant

The disciples are sitting around the table getting ready to share the Passover meal. Their host, Jesus, begins to do something that had to make them pause in silence. As was the custom the host would provide a servant to wash the feet of their guests as they reclined at the table.

I often wonder when Jesus began to wash the feet of one of his disciples if they even recognized it was him. I wonder if they just kept talking knowing what was happening was common enough that many guest never looked at the person who was doing this lowly task of washing feet. I wonder if they just took for granted what was happening until they noticed it was Jesus.

Peter speaks up because he is embarrassed that Jesus is taking on this lowly role. But Jesus tells Peter, if you don't let me serve you--you will have no part of me.

Stunned they watched as Jesus finished serving each of them in an act the host never does. He then begins to teach them about living as one of his disciples.

"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who has sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:13-17

Not only has their host washed their feet, their Lord and Rabbi has taken on the role of this lowly servant. He said he did it to give them an example as to how they should live as one of His followers. Jesus says His followers will serve one another in some of the most humbling ways.

He also says that since He has done this as "Lord" and "Teacher"--we are not exempt as His followers. If He is willing to humble Himself and serve, we need to have the same attitude because we are not greater than He is--He is our master, we are His servant--We are His messengers and He is the one who sends us out to serve the world.

Philippians 2:5-7 says this:

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

Who are you going to serve today?

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Easter Is Over, Now What?

Easter is over. The big crowd, the new clothes, the Krispy Kreme donuts, it's over until next year. Then we do it all over again.

Here is the thing, when Jesus rose from the dead they did not wait until the next "Easter Sunday" to celebrate His resurrection.

At first there was a little confusion, they really didn't know what to do. When he was in the tomb they assumed this journey was over, but when he rose from the grave they were in uncharted territory. Even though he tried to let them know what was going to happen they themselves were in a place of the unknown.

After forty days of being present with His disciples they probably thought it was going to go back to business as usual. But he left again. He ascended into heaven and promised a return.

Before he ascended he said this to them, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

They were given a charge--a responsibility--and it was not just waiting for the next Easter Sunday.

They were given the power of the Holy Spirit and told to be Jesus' witness to the very ends of the earth. Witnesses to what? They were to testify to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. It was not a once a year celebration--it was every day!

Notice He didn't say to go and witness. He said to be a witness. We are to live in such away that people see Jesus by the way we live our life. He wants people to see His resurrection power in our changed lives. He wants us to live a questionable life so that people will question how we live--then we get to testify about Jesus.

Do people see Jesus through your life? Are you one of His witnesses?