1/31/17
The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
John 13:1-11 lets us see Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. He is said to have loved them, and loved them to the end. If we want to understand just how radical this love is, we only need to recognize who is present and what their attitude is toward Jesus. We consider Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus to the authorities and had him led to his death. We consider Peter, the one who initially refused to let Jesus wash his feet, but then, convinced of his own uncleanness asked Jesus to wash him all over.
How badly we understand Jesus! We think we can use him for our own gain. We think we are free to reintrepret what he has said or done. We think he is going to serve us in the way we would demand rather than the way he demands.
What service is this that Jesus demands? He demands that his people allow him to be the one who washes them, who appoints them their place, who loves them even to the end. And when Jesus loves his people to the end, we must realize that he is the one who, having risen from the dead, will never end.
This is confidence indeed! Even those who would try to use Jesus according to their own purposes will find a Lord who works his grace and mercy in them. We might as well get used to it. Jesus goes on forever.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
John 13:1-11 lets us see Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. He is said to have loved them, and loved them to the end. If we want to understand just how radical this love is, we only need to recognize who is present and what their attitude is toward Jesus. We consider Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus to the authorities and had him led to his death. We consider Peter, the one who initially refused to let Jesus wash his feet, but then, convinced of his own uncleanness asked Jesus to wash him all over.
How badly we understand Jesus! We think we can use him for our own gain. We think we are free to reintrepret what he has said or done. We think he is going to serve us in the way we would demand rather than the way he demands.
What service is this that Jesus demands? He demands that his people allow him to be the one who washes them, who appoints them their place, who loves them even to the end. And when Jesus loves his people to the end, we must realize that he is the one who, having risen from the dead, will never end.
This is confidence indeed! Even those who would try to use Jesus according to their own purposes will find a Lord who works his grace and mercy in them. We might as well get used to it. Jesus goes on forever.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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