"Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy."
Psalm 86:1
"I Need Thee Every Hour" is a beautiful song that expresses the need for our Lord and the peace He brings to those who sincerely trust in Him, a peace that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:4-7). Our Lord graciously speaks to us with a tender voice so that we may hear Him and live (John 5:25).
"Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live."
We need our gracious Lord in times of temptation and trials. He has promised to stand by us to help us and provide for our spiritual needs.
"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' 6 So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Heb. 13:5-6)
"Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Cor. 10:12-13).
But we must draw near to Him with a sincere heart and the full assurance of faith that He will do what He has promised.
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" (Heb. 10:22).
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (Jas. 4:8).
Since life is filled with joy and pain (Phil. 4:11-12), we need the Lord to abide with us.
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:4-5).
Life is vain when the Lord does not abide with us (in faith and hope).
"Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope[a] in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied" (1 Cor. 15:12-19).
Moreover, we need the Lord to teach us to know and do His will.
"If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority" (John 7:17).
God wants us to do His will always. By striving to do His will, we can rest assured that He will exceedingly keep His promises to us.
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire" (2 Peter 1:3-4).
We need the Lord to fully belong to Him and be made His since He is the most Holy One.
"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God" (Mk. 1:24).
"But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you" (Acts 3:14).
"So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's" (1 Cor. 3:21-23).
And since His beloved Son gives us life and we are His, we have the hope of eternal life.
"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (1 John 5:11).
CONCLUSION:
The song "I Need Thee Every Hour" is a prayer to me that reminds me that I can talk to my God during my trying and difficult times of tribulation and grief as well as times of happiness and peace.
Therefore, my humble heart bows down to tell Him repeatedly, "I Need Thee Every Hour."
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2
Our afflictions in life leave us weak and injured, not only in body but also in spirit. Our faith compels us to look up to God for strength and guidance when our hearts are fainting. Our lives are indeed uncertain, like a “dark maze.” Without faith, it is impossible to please God(Hebrews 11:6). Faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
Hebrews 11helps us grasp what faith looks like, for faith is certain in the unseen things. Faith helps us to have the assurance that God exists and rewards those who diligently seek Him. In chapter 11 of Hebrews, we are given a long list of heroes with that faith. Their faith helped them to endure great tragedy, massive trials, and the loss of everything. Their amazing faith helped their eyes and hearts to be focused on Heaven and not the things of this world. The faith that looks up to Jesus walks by faith, not sight. Since we have these heroes of faith, we are compelled to live with the same faith approved by God. Their faithfulness encourages us to run the race and finish well.
I. THE NEED FOR FAITH:
Looking to Jesus, The Founder, And Perfecter of Our Faith:
In Hebrews 10, the writer concludes this chapter by reminding us that the righteous must live by faith, not sight. He urges us to have that faith that endures until the end and saves our souls. Why?Because those who give up and shrink back are destroyed. Indeed, he describes those who live by faith. When we consider the detailed description of faith in Hebrews 11, it is easy to see today's many misconceptions of faith.Why?
Because many think of faith as having any sort of spirituality.
People speak of having many faiths (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc.).
Others speak of faith as believing that something good will happen to them (the popular teachings of Joel Osteen).
Some think faith is something blind, taking a blind leap against known facts.
The truth is that none of these descriptions are Biblical faith.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.” (Hebrews 11:1-2)
Consider a few translations that help us understand what the writer of Hebrews teaches us about faith.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (NIV/TNIV)
"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." (NLT)
"To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see." (GNB)
The NLT applies the text well. The GNB does an excellent job of simplifying the concept and maintaining an accurate message.
Faith is the basis of our whole Christian life.
Faith is the basis of our hope.
Faith is an expression of our confidence in what God has revealed.
Faith looks upward and above toward things unseen, away from the things of this world.
Our song, “My Faith Looks Up To Thee,” reminds us and encourages us to keep or fix our eyes on the unseen reward, "looking to Jesus, the founder, and perfecter of our faith... "(Heb. 12:2). It encourages us to look up to Him in faith because He is the Lamb of Calvary who was offered as a sacrifice to take away our sins (1 Pet. 1:18-21; 1 John 1:18-21).
Our faith also looks forward to Christ’s coming (Hebrews 10:38).
Faith is trusting that God’s unseen promises will actually happen.
Our faith will lead us to be approved by God as we put our trust or confidence in Him alone.
The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 trusted God despite their trials and hardship.
They triumphed because of their faith and their trust in God.
They clung tightly to God’s promises as they relied on God’s Word and remained faithful.
That picture of faith is portrayed in Hebrews 11:3 as a powerful example.
“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” (Hebrews 11:3)
The universe and everything created came into existence by things that cannot be seen. God commanded the universe into existence by His words that cannot be seen. Yet those unseen wordsbrought into existence the visible worlds. Our visible world was created by an invisible God who spoke an invisible command.
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Hebrews 11:6is key to our teaching about faith.
Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Without faith: relying on His promises, depending on His Word, and faithfulness toward God, it will be impossible to make it to Heaven.
Without faith, our eyes will compel us to focus on the things of this world.
Without faith, we will definitely shrink back and give up.
Without faith, we will not make it to Heaven.
Without faith (complete reliance on God), life’s difficult circumstances will cause us to shrink back and give up.
Faith is the certainty that God exists and cares.
Faith in God is not just mental affirmation or acceptance.
Faith is being certain of things we cannot see.
Faith believes in the God we cannot see.
Faith believes in God’s words and promises.
Faith believes that God rewards those who sincerely seek Him.
These things are tied to our endurance (Hebrews 10:36). We must have this kind of faith to be found pleasing to God. Without this kind of faith, we will shrink back and lose our reward.
II. RUNNING THE RACE WITH ENDURANCE:
"Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised." (Hebrews 10:35-36)
In Hebrews 10:36, the writer points out our need for endurance. We have a race set before our eyes that demands endurance or perseverance. We have already read in Hebrews 11 of the heroes of faith who ran the race set before them with endurance.Do you suppose Abraham did not need endurance? Indeed, he did. Like him and all the other heroes of faith, we must have the endurance to finish our race well.So how can we finish our race, exercising athletic discipline? Consider the writer’s answer in Hebrews 12:2
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The answer is to look to Jesus. We must fix our eyes on Jesus only. He must be our focus in this life and nothing else.
“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:13)
We get what we focus on. Sadly, we are often distracted by this world, taking our attention away from Jesus, the founder, and perfecter of our faith.We must determine to look to Jesus, fix our eyes on Him, not on sin and earthly things!Jesus must be our focus in life and nothing else. Our eyes must be fixed on the promised reward, not on earth. Jesus focused on the joy set before Him. He did not focus on the physical but on the goal. Are your eyes focused on Jesus, or are they focused on the things of this world? Is your focus heaven or hell?Remember, we will get what we focus on.We must focus our minds on what Jesus did and how He endured.
What Jesus Did:
Jesus is the pioneer, the perfecter of our faith.Hebrews 2:10 describes that language for us.
“For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”
Jesus is our trailblazer, for He has blazed the trail ahead of us, beckoning us to follow.His way is not an unknown road. Jesus has shown us the road we must walk to bring our faith to completion. Jesus shows us the way.
How Jesus Endured:
How did Jesus do it?
He did it in the same way that the heroes of the faith did it inHebrews 11. Their eyes were fixed on the promised reward, not on earth. Jesus focused on the joy set before Him. He did not focus on the physical but on the goal. He looked to the purpose He came to accomplish on earth. Jesus endured the cross and its shame because of the joy set before Him. He could look beyond the cross because He did not focus on its weight and shame. He saw the joy of salvation as a result of His act. He could see the joy of salvation offered by His act. Jesus did not focus on the temporary suffering of the cross, the mocking, and the shame of the cross.The suffering, mocking, and shame meant nothing to Him because His joy was greater than the shame.As Jesus endured till the end, so must we endure, even amid our suffering and pain. When we fix our eyes on Jesus and the joy set before us, we endure suffering and trials. Joy is the result of our endurance.Hope helps us to endure and have joy amid our sufferings and trials.
Jesus looked beyond the cross because He knew that God keeps His promises and would surely exalt Him to the right hand of the throne of glory. Jesus’ faith enabled Him to accomplish His goal. Because He believed, He received His reward, and God could keep His promises. The same thing is true for us. When we look to Jesus in faith, we see through our suffering and know that God keeps His promises of a better country and a great reward.
“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:13-16)
Hebrews 11:13-16 is vital to our faith. Notice that all those heroes died in faith, not receiving the things promised. They acknowledged they were strangers and exiles on earth. Faith compels us to focus on God’s heavenly things, not on the things of this world.Faith compels us to serve God without focusing on what we will receive right now. To serve God in such a way is idolatry. It is not faith!Faith believes in the unseen, not what can be seen right now.
The heroes of faith saw their promises from afar.
They saw their promises because they believed in the unseen without receiving them.
They were so confident of God’s promises and reward that they could see the unseen.
Though they did not receive the promises, they were so confident in their faith that they could see what they would receive.
Indeed, this world was not their home. They were seeking a better home (Hebrews 11:14). They were traveling through life to a better country (Hebrews 11:16).
When we focus on this world, we will return to it.
When our primary focus is this earthly life, we will shrink back and cling to the things of this world.
When our hearts are on earth, we want to stay here.
When this world’s physical and material things are more important to us than the better country that God has promised, Heaven will not be our home.
The heroes of faith desired a better country.True faith desires more than what the eyes can see. And though God made everything that our eyes can see, we must walk by faith, faith in the unseen. There is something better and greater, our heavenly country. So let us not trade in our heavenly country for the temporary, fleeting pleasures of this world that our eyes can see.
“But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:16)
The words in verse 16are encouraging words. God is not ashamed to be called our God. God is willing to accept us as His people. What a glorious picture! The writer of Hebrews reminds us of what is awaiting us. God has already prepared a city for us. Notice that this statement is in the past tense. The reward is already waiting for us!Since our reward is certain, we must desire the better city, not the temporary pleasures of this world.
Moses chose to share the oppression of God’s people rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
“He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.” (Hebrews 11:25-26)
Moses traded the temporary pleasures, looking forward to the great eternal reward.
“And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:39-40)
In Hebrews 11:13-16, the writer stresses that what we receive now must not be as important to us as what God has promised for us later. Knowing this,
Let us not give up true faith.
Let us trust in God completely to receive His promises.
Let us not throw away our confidence, which has a great reward.
Let us endure and finish our race well.
Let us strengthen our faith and grow stronger in the Lord, enduring life’s difficulties and gaining victory.
Let us keep doing the will of God even amid our times of suffering.
Remember that if we endure faithfully until the end, we will receive the promised reward.Oh, what a glorious day that will be!
The writer quotes together Isaiah 26:20 and Habakkuk 2:3-4. The righteous live by faith. When we live by faith, we do not put our trust and confidence in the things of this world: the physical, material things. When our faith looks up to Jesus, we will never give up, even when we suffer tragedy and loss. We will never shrink back and give up because we know we will be destroyed. God has no pleasure in those who give up. Thus, let us not lose heart and lose our faith, for we must preserve ourselves through faith. Let us not turn away from God, listening to Satan’s lies.Life in God is better than possessions, fleshly desires, and power. Jesus did not use His power of divinity to obtain these things. His fulfillment in life was the kingdom of God. True satisfaction comes from God, not from physical, temporary things.
CONCLUSION:
Let us not grow weary, but instead, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the leader of faith, to endure and finish the race set before us.Stop and think for a minute about what Jesus suffered and endured. We must follow Jesus and the example of the cloud of witnesses that walked the path of faith before us. They could endure because they laid aside every weight that slowed them down from righteousness. They got rid of everything, every sin, to endure and not grow weary or fainthearted (Hebrews 12:3).
Our suffering has not been to the degree that Jesus suffered.Let us remember this! Jesus suffered all the way to the point of death, and so did many of the heroes of faith recorded in Hebrews 11. We must not feel sorry for ourselves when suffering. Nor should we grow weary and give up. Instead, we must consider the life of Jesus and the cloud of witnesses.It is easy to be discouraged, throw in the towel, andgive up! But we must acknowledge that we are fighting a big enemy, Satan, in a war against sin. We must remember that our battle is not even close to what Jesus had to endure for us.
We, children of God, are not excluded from suffering and hardship.We are not promised a smooth life filled with rainbows and sunsets. Remember the exhortation given in Proverbs 3:11-12.
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
Let us not take the Lord’s teaching lightly. God never promised an easy life. Hardship in life must be looked at as God’s method of training and discipline.Parents love their children by correcting and disciplining them. God trains and disciplines us into shape because He is our Father, and we are His children. God allows bad, challenging, and difficult things to happen to us to teach, reprove, discipline, and whip us into shape.Yes, God spanks us!What kind of Father would God be if He gave us an easy life? Stop and think about this!Every child needs correcting and hardship to learn. We learn from pain and change because of hardships. We need correction and hardships to be shaped into the image of God.
Difficult times bring about the fruit of righteousness in our lives.And though life is difficult and full of pain, we must not give up and quit! Instead, we must look to Jesus in faith and allow Him to teach us God’s lessons.Hardship is good for us, for it helps us change and bear fruit to the glory of God. Thus, let us be strong, get a grip, pull ourselves together, and stop whining.Let us lay aside everything except our faith and endurance!Let us allow God to heal us when we feel like we are falling apart under the weight of suffering.
In Hebrews 11:6, we are told that “it is impossible to please God without faith.”We won’t make it without faith when life falls apart in difficult times. Without God’s correction, reproof, discipline, and whipping, we will not see the Lord and receive the reward awaiting us.Yes, life is full of suffering, hardship, and difficulties!But are we going to throw away our eternal inheritance with the Lord just because we are suffering and life is hard?Do we prefer to be rejected by God and not receive the blessing He has promised us just because we find it difficult to endure our suffering?We have not suffered to the point of shedding blood like Jesus!So let us be strong and look through the suffering, fixing our eyes on Jesus and our eternal reward!Let Jesus be our main focus, and never trade away God’s blessings and His reward for a few crumbs of this physical world.
Our beloved song, “My Faith Looks Up To Thee,” reminds us that we must look up to Jesus in faith because He is our Mediator who has promised to hear our prayers to the Father (1 Tim. 2:5). We must look up to Him in faith because He has promised to give us strength, for His grace is sufficient to help us endure our trials and tribulations. He is the supreme embodiment of God’s Grace. When we put our faith in Jesus, His grace will help us bear our heavy burdens (2 Cor. 8:9; 12:7-9).
Our Lord and Savior bids darkness turn to day and wipes our tears and sorrows away through God’s Grace (2 Eph. 2:13-14, 17-18). Jesus has promised to be with us amid our sufferings and trials. He urges us not to be afraid, for He has promised to remove our fears and anxieties if we put our faith in Him. Thus, we must put our faith completely in Jesus and trust Him to help us, through His Grace, endure, run our race, and finish well, whatever life throws at us.Let this be our motivator when life is hard and full of tears!
Jesus removes our fear and distrust. Even in death, Jesus has promised to be with us. As a result, those who die in the Lord will have rest (Rev. 14:13). Thus, we must put our faith completely in Jesus, as did the centurion of Matthew 8:5-11. We have the hope that at life’s end, we may sit down with the saints of all ages in the kingdom of Heaven.
“When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 ‘Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.’ 7 And he said to him, 'I will come and heal him.' 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.’ 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”’ (Matthew 8:5-11)
Therefore, let us walk this life of trouble, suffering, and hardship, always looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Let us turn our hearts to Him and say, "My Faith Looks Up To Thee."
May our faith look up to Jesus, our Lamb of Calvary and Savior divine, to find strength amid our suffering and hardship. May He be our guide when life’s dark maze we tread and griefs around us spread. May our faith look to Jesus to bid darkness turn to day and wipe sorrows’ tears away. May we never grow weary but instead fix our eyes on Jesus, the leader of faith, to endure and finish well the race set before us and receive the reward that awaits us.
I hope the words of this lovely song compel you to look to Jesus in faith amid life’s trials and tribulations.
I am pleased to announce the completion of my 4th book, "Walking The Narrow Way." I have a link that will take you to the publisher's page, Gospel Armory, where you can order the book at a pre-published discount price. I am very happy that this book will be available to the public. I hope that it will bear much fruit for the Lord. To Him be the glory!
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me."
Galatians 2:20
Our lovely song "Christ Liveth In Me" reminds us of our walk with Christ. A walk that must be walked by faith so that Christ may live in us. There is great joy when we are crucified with Christ and allow Him to live in us. We have light when Christ lives in us.
Our sins separate us from God and make us distant from Him. We were once far from God and dead in our trespasses and sins. When we were disobedient to God and living in darkness, our hearts did not have the light of God.
"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." (1 Jn. 1:5-6)
Because of our disobedience, we were children of wrath.
As a result, we were separated from Christ and the Father and without hope. But Christ's blood drew us closer to God and reconciled us to Him.
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Eph. 2:1-3, 11-13)
However, when we come to Christ and surrender to Him, we find the light we need through God's Word.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105)
We have life and love when Christ lives in us, for it comes from Him.
God made the sun to give us light during the day (Genesis 1:14-18). God has provided light to help the flowers and the grass to grow (Matt. 6:28-30). Because of Christ, God gives us life and love, for Christ is the Light of the world.
"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" (John 8:12)
We have the Spirit of Christ when we crucify our flesh and allow Him to live in us.
His Spirit dwells in us through His revealed Word.
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit."(Ephesians 5:18)
"By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit." (1 John 4:13)
In the seed lives that power that produces a new flower, plants, or trees after its own kind.
"And God said, 'Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.' And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.'" (Genesis 1:11-12)
"You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body." (1 Cor. 15:36-38)
"His Son dwelleth in me."
When Christ dwells in us by faith, ruling our hearts, we are filled with all the fullness of God and His glory.
"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Eph. 3:17-19)
For Christ to dwell in us, we must long to be transformed and shaped into His image, for this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Cor. 3:18)
Therefore, we must dwell on this wondrous thought that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, worthy of praise, and excellent.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Phil. 4:8)
Christ lives in those who are His faithful children.
Christ lives in us when we surrender to His will with complete obedience. Christ will lead our souls into all righteousness and salvation when He lives in us and rules our hearts. Therefore, I will rejoice because "Christ liveth in me."
I hope this beautiful hymn may stir your soul the way it stirred mine.
Once far from God and dead in sin, No light my heart could see,
But in God’s word the light I found–Now Christ liveth in me.
As rays of light from yonder sun, The flowers of earth set free,
So life and light and love came forth From Christ living in me.
As lives the flower within the seed, As in the cone the tree,
So, praise the God of truth and grace, His Spirit dwelleth in me.
With longing all my heart is filled That like Him I may be,
As on the wondrous thought I dwell, That Christ liveth in me.
"But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
Galatians 6:14
We sing a moving hymn based on Galatians 6:14. The song "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross" is about the value of the cross that Jesus had to bear on which the Prince of glory died for our sins. God showed His love to us by allowing Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners.
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8)
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures." (1 Cor. 15:3)
According to the Scriptures, Jesus our Lord and Savior, died for our sins.
Like the apostle Paul, we must be motivated to survey and contemplate the wondrous cross and count our riches or “gain” as loss, to know and gain Christ.
"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:7-8)
We surrender to God and His will when we know and understand the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died.
We have nothing in the flesh in which to glory before God except in the death of Christ, for by Grace, we have been saved through faith in Christ.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Eph. 2:8-9)
We must sacrifice all the vain things that charm us.
We sacrifice all the vain things that charm us by dying to ourselves, denying ourselves the pleasures of this world, and taking up our cross to be living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."(Romans 12:1)
"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."' (Matt. 16:24)
We must be crucified with Christ to let Christ live in us.
Since Jesus loved and gave Himself for us, we must put to death all worldliness and ungodliness that may remain in us and no longer love the world.
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Gal. 2:20)
"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Col. 3:5)
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." ( 1 John 2:15-16)
We must sacrifice all things.
Since Jesus' blood was poured out to forgive our sins, we must also sacrifice all things to His blood.
"For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matt. 26:28)
We must remember God's Love and what Jesus did to redeem us.
As we reflect on the actual crucifixion of Christ, we must remember what Jesus did for us and how God's love saved us and made us alive together with Christ, even when we were dead in our trespasses.
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved." (Eph. 2:4-5)
We can be saved from our sins through Jesus' blood, shed on the cross.
"But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water." (John 19:33-34)
We can be saved through Jesus' suffering, sorrow, bitter grief, and death on the cross.
"After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), 'I thirst.' 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.'" (John 19:28-30)
God showed His wondrous love to us by sending His beloved Son to die for us.
And although we have nothing to give to Him, since everything belongs to Him, God has shown amazing love to us by sending His beloved Son to die for us so that we could be saved.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
Therefore, since God has abundantly given us His amazing and divine love through the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, we must give our souls, lives, and all to Him. We must die to sin and no longer be its slave.
"For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions." (Romans 6:5-12)
Are you willing to surrender and give everything to Christ (your soul, your life, and your all), the One who died for you on Calvary? Are you willing to offer yourself as a holy, acceptable, and living sacrifice to Him, that is, be devoted to Him completely, the One who died to purchase your salvation? Why not start surveying the cross on which the Prince of glory died with dedication and devotion to Him alone?
I hope this beautiful hymn may stir your soul the way it stirred mine.
“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”
John 13:14-15
One of the keys to understanding the character of God is to know the goodness or kindness that He shows toward His beloved creation, especially mankind. One of Jesus’ favorite quotations is taken from the prophet Hosea.
“For I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”(Hosea 6:6)
"But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.'" (Matthew 9:13)
"But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.'"(Matthew 12:7)
Mercy or compassion is a fundamental Hebrew word that broadly encompasses goodness, kindness, generosity, and mercy. Jesus revealed the very character by His example as He walked among men. He did not regard it as impossible for men to achieve. Indeed He ordered the apostles to practice that kindness among themselves.
In John 13:14-15, Jesus washed the apostles’ feet and urged them to follow His example. He commanded them to wash each other’s feet. Does this command apply to us today?Are we supposed to observe a ritual of washing each other’s feet as worship in the church?
Let us first examine the whole context of John 13:1-20 to understand what Jesus was teaching.
I. WASH ANOTHER’S FEET:
Background:(John 13:1-5)
"Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him."
John 13 begins by saying,
"Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end" (verse 1).
Jesus knew "His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father." Although He found Himself distressed in anticipation of the events about to occur, He didn't allow it to affect His actions toward His disciples. Instead of allowing the circumstances to absorb Him and take control of Him, "He loved them to the end," showing His love in many ways.
"And during supper," we find the twelve apostles present for the Passover supper (cf. Matt. 26:20). We likewise see that “the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him.” (John 13:2; cf. Luke 22:3)
John 13:3 declares,
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God.”
Verse 3highlights three specific things that Jesus knew:
He knew He was divine and had come from the Father (cf. John 1:1, 14).
He knew He would return to Him soon, to the glory He had laid aside to save mankind (cf. Phil. 2:5-11).
And He also knew that He had all power and authority in heaven and on earth befitting one who had come from heaven and would be returning to it (Matt. 28:18).
John 13:4-5 declares,
“Rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him."
John writes in a very detailed way about Jesus’ humility. Jesus’ actions showed a big contrast to the apostles’ behavior. Why? Because they had shown selfishness, worldly ambitions, and arrogance while arguing about which of them was the greatest at this dinner feast (Luke 22:24ff). How sad to be fighting for a throne and not for a towel!
We must consider what is happening to better understand the greater lesson that Jesus is teaching us. Let us take a look at John 13:3-5.
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, do you wash my feet?’”
In verses 3-6, Jesus is laying aside His garments and putting a towel around His waist, taking the form of a servant. Jesus is performing an act of humble service as He became a servant to them. When Jesus began washing the disciples’ feet, Peter said to Him, “Lord, do you wash my feet.”Why do you suppose Peter asked this question? Because the work that Jesus was performing was for someone else to do, not the son of God.Indeed, this was a great lesson of service and humility!
Let us not miss out on what Jesus was trying to accomplish when He assumed the position of a servant. Jesus’ purpose for washing or cleaning their dirty feet was to teach them true greatness. Every Christian must learn that greatness comes through faithful service and humility (cf. Micah 6:8; Matt. 5:3).
II. WHY DID JESUS WASH THE APOSTLES’ FEET?
“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, do you wash my feet?’ 7 Jesus answered him, ‘What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.’ 8 Peter said to him, ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.’ 9 Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ 10 Jesus said to him, ‘The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.’ 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’” (John 13:6-11)
So, What Is The Lesson of Foot Washing?
Consider four great lessons every Christian must learn from Jesus’ example of servitude andhumility.
It Was Needed:
In those days, the typical footwear in Palestine was a pair of sandals. The people of those days did not wear tennis shoes to walk on pavement and concrete like we do today. And though they protected their feet from rocks and other sharp objects, they could not keep the feet clean from dust, dirt, and mud. Their feet would become dirty quickly. It was the day's custom to take off one’s sandals at the door, where a basin of water was usually kept to wash one’s feet or those of a visitor. However, the service of foot washing went undone since there was no host present and no volunteer to perform such a lowly task in the upper room when Jesus and His apostles arrived. Since Jesus was aware of this, He took responsibility for Himself, girding Himself with a towel that He used to dry the feet of the apostles after He had washed them.
Foot washing was a custom done in people’s homes. Likewise, they did not sit at the table but reclined at the table with the feet tucked back. You see, we can hide our feet when we sit at the table.
Do you remember in Luke 7:36-50 when Jesus was in Simon, the Pharisee’s house, and the sinful woman was washing Jesus’ feet with oil and her hair?Jesus said that Simon did not even offer him a basin of water to do His feet.In those days, foot washing was customary and necessary.
It Was a Great Act of Humility:
Jesus' actions showed He was doing much more than merely cleaning the apostles’ feet.Why? Because Jesus was teaching them a powerful lesson about true greatness and humility. However, His apostles did not fully grasp the message until later (cf. I Pet. 5:5). Isn’t it remarkable how Jesus humbly washed their feet only a few hours before He surrendered to death on the cross for our purification! Remember that it was through His sacrificial act of humility, His crucifixion, that mankind would be offered purification or cleansing from their sins.
"You shall never wash my feet!"
Although Peter's first response is understandable, he shows self-righteousness and arrogance as he questions the judgment of Jesus.
“If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”
Here, Jesus answered Peter swiftly and sharply. If Peter had refused to let Jesus wash his feet, it would have meant that he, Peter, did not want to take any part in the Lord’s work, His coming kingdom, and in the ultimate blessings to be bestowed upon the faithful. So, why did Jesus respond to Peter so strongly?Because one of the first and most important requirements of discipleship is complete and unquestioning submission to the will of God. I believe Peter was way out of line at this point. He seems to understand this when he makes his following comment.
"Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"
Peter bounces from one extreme to the other, perhaps because he loves Jesus. Although washing was required for sharing in the work and favor of Jesus, Peter could not understand what Jesus was trying to teach them. He reasoned that he could not have too much of it.
"Jesus said to him, ‘The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.’”
The language of John 13:10 implies that they had bathed before coming to Jerusalem. Only their feet had become dirty and needed to be rewashed.
"For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.'"
Jesus is talking about the heart of Judas. The heart of Judas had been impure and evil for some time (cf. John 6:64,70). And though Judas’ body was physically clean and Jesus had washed his feet, his heart remained evil. Evidently, Jesus is using the act of foot washing as a symbol of inner cleansing. While it is true that He knew the other eleven apostles’ hearts as clean and pure, except for Judas, He was utterly aware that they had their own weaknesses of selfishness and jealousy. Most likely, Judas was aware that Jesus was on to him. And though this might have made Judas cringe, it did not keep him from completing his evil plan.
It Was The Correct Response To Christ’s Love:
"When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, 'Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.'" (John 13:12-17)
"Do you understand what I have done to you?"
Although Jesus’ apostles were aware of what He had done by washing their feet, they still did not understand the significance of this act.
“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.”
Even though they called Jesus their Teacher and Lord, Jesus did not seek a position of fleshly preeminence and honor. Instead, He humbly sought to serve others out of love. Jesus wants His apostles to learn from His example and be willing to serve others (and each other), even in the most menial tasks. Were they supposed to see only the washing of feet?No! They were supposed to observe the humility of Jesus. And though God does not need humility, He is everything. Think about it! Listen to Paul’s words about Jesus.
"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent." (Colossians 1:16–18)
“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”
Jesus showed humility when He took the lower role. Godly love is self-sacrificing. A faithful disciple of Jesus has the mind of humility, for he practices humility like Jesus. Jesus has shown us how to treat others with a humble and giving heart without regard for shame, status, or honor codes. Jesus became a servant to all even though everyone is lesser than He. We cannot be His disciples unless we show humility.
Sadly many of our friends in the religious world misinterpret this passage to say that it is our Christian duty today to wash each other's feet in the assembly.Foot washing, as a church ordinance, did not begin until the fourth century. It was long after the great apostasy had set in. I must stress that Jesus did not institute the practice of foot washing since it was already a common and culturally accepted practice. Jesus simply used foot washing to demonstrate the spirit of humble service. Later that evening, Jesus did institute the Lord's Supper memorial. The Lord’s Supper memorial is something that He certainly wants Christians to practice in their assemblies (as seen clearly in the New Testament example, Acts 2:42; 20:7; I Cor. 11:23ff). The only other time foot-washing is mentioned in the New Testament is in connection with other individual acts of service (cf. I Tim. 5:10).
“And having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.”
In 1 Timothy 5:10, washing the saints’ feet is listed as part of that lady's personal life (widows), service, and doing good to others. Again, it was not a worship activity nor a ceremony in which people washed feet.
It is critical to acknowledge what Jesus was implying in John 13:15 when He said to do "as" He had done for them, and, unlike the Lord's Supper, He did not give instructions for the act of foot washing to be done until He comes again (cf. I Cor. 11:26). Jesus wants His followers to have an attitude of selfless service. The practice of foot washing in those days was an act of humility. However, in today's society, foot washing has never been a cultural act of courtesy or hospitality. For a person today to wash someone's feet would be to miss Jesus' point completely. To follow Jesus' words literally would mean introducing a strange and ridiculous practice today. It would greatly embarrass and inconvenience our guests. Why?Because the literal act of foot washing was to remove dirt from one's feet. Jesus’ intention is to symbolize the spirit of humility and the need to perform the most menial acts of Christian service to others in love for all future generations.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”
A servant must always be willing to do that which his master does. He must never be ashamed of it. We are acting as if we are greater than Jesus when we refuse to give ourselves to serve others. We must be willing to serve even those beneath us. We must give ourselves up for one another, for we are not greater than our Master. But serving others beneath us is precisely what our Master did!Let that sink deeply into your hearts!
"If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (cf. Matt. 7:21; James 1:22)
Humility means more than swallowing our pride; pride blocks humble service and godly thinking. We must know we must be humble servants to bring God’s blessings. Practicing humility the way Jesus did means we overlook the offenses of others committed against us. It implies a desire for reconciliation with each other and a heart of forgiveness, not bitterness. It means to give of ourselves to each other. It means we do not consider what we deserve or what is beneath us and is not worthy of our time or action.
We are blessed when we refuse to think about ourselves when the occasion arises for us to serve others. We must not disregard Jesus’ teaching and example. We must give and give some more even when we cannot give anymore. We must give ourselves to the undeserving (John 13:18-20).
We Must Humbly Serve The Undeserving: (John 13:18-20)
"I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.' 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.'"
"I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.'"
"He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me." (cf. Psalm 41:9)
Jesus declares that there is a betrayer among them. Why is Jesus making the point that He knows whom He has chosen?Because one of them is not a servant but a betrayer. Even though Jesus knew "from the beginning" (John 6:64) that Judas would betray Him, that does not, in any way, mean that He forced such to happen.Indeed, God can see the end from the beginning without causing it. He can foretell anything without originating it. The point of Jesus quoting Psalm 41:9 is to show that this betrayal is painful.Why is Jesus pointing all this out?Because Jesus had humbly served the betrayer, even though He knew he was the betrayer. This is to show that there is no loophole in our acts of humble service.
Jesus did not send out the betrayer and then wash the apostles' feet. Instead, Jesus washed Judas’ feet, the betrayer, and then sent him out. No one gets the label of “undeserving of service.” No one is exempt. Jesus served him whom He knew was going to harm Him. Thus we must serve others and follow Jesus’ example. We must not serve only those we like, who are nice to us, or treat us well. Yes, we must serve the one who lifts his heel against us! We must give ourselves in service, even to those who hurt us.
"I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he."
If Jesus had not spoken of Judas' betrayal, the disciples might have found enough reason to doubt Him, thinking that Jesus was completely surprised byJudas' deception. However, Jesus mentioning Judas' betrayal ahead of time led to the strengthening of their faith. Jesus did not want Judas’ deceitfulness to shake the faith of the other apostles.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
Jesus wanted the apostles to believe that He was sent from the Father and that His messengers were also messengers of the Almighty God.
CONCLUSION:
Foot washing was indeed a remarkable act of humility!It was uncommon for someone of esteem to wash another’s feet. Why? Because foot washing was the work of slaves or something that one did himself. By Jesus washing His disciples’ feet, He was teaching us a great act of humility and selflessness. He left an excellent example for His disciples to follow and for us as well (John 13:15). So, the question at stake is: Did Jesus leave the example to perform an outer act of foot washing, or did He leave the example as a godly act of service and humility?God was not commanding an outward ritual act, for He wanted them and us to grasp the message of the outward act.
For Jesus to perform such a menial service for His inferiors was a powerful lesson to them, and it should still be such for us today. No disciple can rightly claim to be above the performance of even the lowliest services. If Jesus was willing to act humbly as a servant in His infinite greatness,there is not a single follower of His today who should consider themselves beyond such service.
In John 13:12, after Jesus had finished washing the feet of the disciples, He asked them,
“Do you understand what I have done to you?
Verse 12 is the key phrase here. Jesus is challenging His disciples to grasp the significance of what He had done. The answer to Jesus’ question is not just a “yes” but the excellent lesson He is teaching His disciples.
So why don’t we perform foot washing today?Because foot washing is not necessary today like it was in Jesus’ day. Also, it would not have the same meaning for us today that He wanted His disciples to grasp. And though it is not necessary for us today to literally wash each others’ feet, let us not cast this away as cultural, ignoring the Scripture.Why? Because we still must perform acts of service for one another as commanded by our Lord. We still must do those things that we believe are beneath us to please God and go to heaven.
Jesus’ message of humility and selflessness to His disciples still applies to us today.God expects no less of us. We must humble ourselves and do those things we think are humiliating when serving others!Nothing must be beneath us when we serve others. Jesus, our Lord, has left an excellent example of servitude and humility as He became our Servant. We must serve others as Jesus did. There is nothing culturally obsolete about that.
So what happened after Jesus washed the disciples’ feet? Judas went out from the foot washing and the supper and betrayed Jesus (John 13:29-30). Imagine Jesus serving the very person who would betray Him!Jesus wanted them to learn a much deeper, life-changing lesson: humility. He wants you and me to learn it also. How well are we learning?Jesus asks what we will be: self-serving like Judas or serving others humbly like Him?When we refuse to humble ourselves, that is, bring ourselves low to serve others, even our enemies, we are unworthy servants and self-serving.
You see, servants serve. Servants serve others. Servants do what must be done. We must surely learn to serve since Jesus was willing to carry out the lowest of tasks on behalf of His apostles. These are profound lessons that Jesus is teaching us to put into practice today to serve others humbly. But to accomplish Jesus’ example and teaching of humility and servitude, we must first start thinking like a servant and esteem others as better than ourselves.
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Phil. 2:3-4).
May we obey Jesus’ teaching of servitude and humility and train ourselves to think and act like true servants of Christ. May we humbly serve others as Jesus did when He washed His disciples' feet. May we serve Jesus, taking the way of the cross, for the cross is humility. May we never forget that we are servants of Christ and that our lives, relationships, and actions are not about us but for Jesus and others in humble service. May we love and humbly serve Jesus and one another, for this pleases our Father in heaven. May we always strive to do God’s will.
