A Thought a Day...
Friday, August 20, 2004
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." John 13:6,7
The context of today's verses are that Christ has started to wash the feet of the disciples during the meal of the Passover celebration. An now he comes to Peter and is starting to wash his feet.
I sure do like Peter. I would guess his motto could be "Open mouth, Exchange Feet!" I'm so much like him. I'm always blurting out the first thing that comes into my mind and it's always getting me into trouble. If not trouble, at least a bit embarrassed at times. That is so like Peter. Christ has the bowl of water, he has the towel wrapped around his waist, the passage says that Jesus has started washing the disciples feet and wiping them with the towel around his waist. The perfect understatement... "Are you going to wash MY feet?"
I'm sure it was hard for Peter to comprehend. This was servant work. This was Christ, Pete's teacher and mentor for the past three years. I can imagine that one thought that went through the minds of the disciples is "I should be the one to have done this". I'm sure there was a sense of incredulity in the room. And I would be right there with them. One of the hardest things I face is to accept when someone does something for me. I'm sure that was part of Peter's problem or at least his reaction. It's easy for me to be critical... But then projection is the only show I take with me everywhere I go. My reaction to Peter is what he is saying could be, "I know better than you, you shouldn't be washing my feet." That by his question he is telling the Lord what he should or shouldn't be doing.
The Lord's answer is simple enough, "You don't know everything, Peter, but someday you'll understand this." How many times do I miss out on a blessing because I think I know what's best for me and don't allow the Lord to bless me? How many times a day, like Peter, do I question the Lord's actions. How many times a day do I think I know better than the Lord what's good for me.
Father, forgive me for my arrogance in thinking I know more and have a better plan than do you. Forgive me for my lack of faith. Forgive me for not accepting your love. I hear you today when you tell me that you know what is good for me. I hear you tell me that it's OK to question, but that you have a reason for what you do... And eventually I'll understand it. So just for today I'll trust you. I don't always understand, but I'll believe what you have in your plan for me.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
"so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." John 13:4,5.
Apparently there were no slaves or servants present to wash the feet of the disciples when they arrived in the upper room. This was an act usually performed when a guest first arrived at a home as an act of hospitality. It was a simple gesture, the guests feet were dirty from the dusty roads as the walked to the home of the host. Most people of that time wore no shoes or open sandals. Perhaps there feet had been washed earlier, but this was an act by the Lord to teach the disciples a lesson.
It would not surprise me to find out the feet of the disciples had already been washed. Christ was the master of the object lesson. I've already talked about seeing the city gleaming in the morning light near the site of the Sermon on the Mount. Another time, when asked about paying taxes, Christ asked for a coin to show the image of Caesar on it. Another time, Christ was hanging out at the Temple people-watching when he saw the widow give her sacrificial gift of a mite... The smallest gift that could be made... And he used her to talk about stewardship.
In any case, the Lord is preparing to wash the feet of the disciples during the evening meal. Isn't it funny how people react when you act out of character or in a way that people don't expect. I've already mentioned on my blog that one of my favorite things to do as a random act of kindness is to pay a toll for the car in back of me... Even though I don't know them. Sometimes people react over the simplest acts, like opening the door for them in a public place. The Lord's actions here are definitely in the unexpected category as He prepares to perform the act of a servant.
I find it interesting how the fourth verse begins, "so...". What is the so about? This is a continuation of the third verse that says, "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...." I find it fascinating that this act of humility comes as a result of the Father giving him power over all things. And that is where I find the lesson for me.
I'm in a position where I have to often take charge of situations. I deal at the C level with Fortune 100 and government agencies on a daily basis. By the C level, I mean CIO, CFO, CEO. These are powerful (or they perceive themselves to be) people. I have found that by simply addressing them as a peer and refusing to be intimidated, I can get my point across easily. But where I'm the most effective is when I simply ask, what is the biggest challenge we need to overcome together while I'm here. That request to serve will generally break down any barriers that may be there.
The lesson is simple, to be effective I need to be a servant... To everyone.
Father, I often miss chances to show you to others. I let my own ego get in the way of serving you. Humble me. Help me to understand that only when I serve my brothers am I really showing my power... The power you have given me through your Spirit. Thank you for sending Christ to be my example. Now let me apply the lesson you have shown me today.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;" John 13:3
I'm in Albuquerque, New Mexico again this week, and I'm staying in the Doubletree Hotel. It's a Hilton property and I almost always stay in a Marriott. I guess I should stay in a Holiday Inn Express, then I'd know a lot more. I could do brain surgery, viral research or even whomp all my competitors in Jeopardy. But even then, I wouldn't know as much as Christ knew. This verse says that Jesus had all things under his control. How awesome is that?
But was all that knowledge all that cool? I don't think so. Here Christ is trying to impart his last words to his disciples, and I don't think they get it. Christ knew from a child what was job one. He knew what was in store for him. His agony in the garden in anticipation of the suffering he would endure is indicative that it wasn't all that much fun!
It seems there are a lot of people in the world who are trying to know all there is to know. For a while I was involved in the Human Potential movement. Human Potential is based on the premise that most people use only ten percent of the capability of their brain. So, it follows that if I can use more, even one or two percent more, then I would have a huge advantage over other people in business and life in general. The motto is "I can do all things." Where this is at odds with traditional Christianity is that it should be "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". One thing I saw during that time was a lot of people who wanted to know the future. In fact, they would give over their power to anyone who could tell them about tomorrow. Much of what happened to them, I'm convinced, was self-fulfilling prophecy. But what if they really knew the future? Christ did. I'm glad I don't have that kind of knowledge.
The one thing that strikes me about this verse is that He knew he was sent by God and would be returning to God. I've heard Dad talk about being away at war and how he anticipated returning home to marry my mother. I'm sure Christ must have been anxious to return home, as well. Thanks to His work here on earth, I can have that same knowledge.
Father, you have done so much for me. I can't begin to imagine the hurt and agony Christ endured here in order that I might be able to know that I could come to be with you. But I thank you for sending Him. I thank you for saving me; for sheltering me; for letting me know my options right up front. Thank you for being you.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
"The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. " Matthew 13:2
The Seder or Passover ritual has been completed and during that celebration the Lord has instituted the Lord's Supper or communion.
The traditional Seder or Passover Feast involved the preparation of the meal and then started with the sharing of a cup of wine with a prayer, the teachings and the conclusion of the ritual with the sharing of a Matzo and a final cup of wine with blessing. It's pretty clear that the Lord chose the time of the breaking of the Matzo and the last cup of wine to institute Christian Communion. The Lamb of God was about to be slain and we would partake of the body and blood of that Lamb during the sacrament of Communion. After the ritual, the festival meal is served. The rest of the lamb is eaten as well as the other prepared foods. It is generally a leisurely eaten meal. It is at this point in the evening John is placing this event.
More important than the time of the evening that these events occur is what John says about Judas. "... The devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus." I'm in the computer field. When I program a screen prompt, I am asking the operator to respond with a keyboard or mouse entry. Many times I try to guide the computer operator to making the choice I've preselected by giving a default option. That is preselecting the choice so all the operator has to do is hit the Enter Key or click OK. It's interesting that two thousand years ago, John writes that Satan prompted Judas to betray Christ. It says to me that Judas was given a choice of how to react. That while God knew what the choice was that he would take (much like I generally know what a computer operator's choice will be) , he still had a choice. Judas has made his choice and has left the room to go consummate the deal.
The question that this raises in my mind is how many times do I respond to Satan's prompts. How often do I take the easy option and hit the enter key of my life instead of responding "No" and following an entirely different choice. Sometimes when I mess up, it's because it's easy... Easier than really thinking about the choice ahead of me and the consequences of that choice.
I've read a few articles that say that Judas did not intent to cause the Lord's death, that he just wanted to force the Lord's hand to assert himself against the Romans and the leadership of that day. That he wanted the Lord to establish His kingdom on earth. It doesn't matter. The end result was the slaying of the Lamb. How many times do my choices go against the will of God and lead to sin? And that sin led to the slaying of the Lamb. But just as the blood of the Lamb spread on the door post of the Israelites in Egypt, the spreading of the blood of the Lamb on the door post of my heart saves me. I don't have to take the defaults. Satan is often wrong... ask Job. But not taking the default option it may not lead me down an easy path, but it would be the right path. I have to remember also that the Holy Spirit can prompt me also. This is where discernment comes in.
Father, I often take the easy way out. I just hit the Enter Key of life because the prompt wants me to do so. I don't always read the prompts. I just react. Forgive me for taking life for granted. Forgive me for taking the easy way out... Even when that easy way is the wrong way. Keep before me the death of the Lamb and help me to realize that my sin put Him there. At the same time, thank you for the blood of Christ that pays the penalty for my sin. Now, lead my heart in a song and let me go into the world to celebrate your great care for me.
