In this post Pastor John shares with us the last message Jesus would have for His disciples and how it should speak to us today.
“That is the path of blessing” (John 13:17 NLT).
John 13 begins with the wonderful thought: “Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”
One translation says “He loved them to the uttermost.” Another says He “showed them the full extent of his love.”
As His public ministry began to come to its end, Jesus wanted to demonstrate in a tangible way the love He had for his disciples. So in the Upper Room, He assembles these men of mixed qualities and abilities and He begins to wash their feet. After a mild protest by Peter, Jesus launches into a teaching as to what His actions meant.
He was always teaching, and everything He did had a purpose. On this occasion, He wanted His boys to know what life would be like once He was gone, for it was only hours away from His time of crucifixion.
The lesson on this final occasion was the “path of blessing.” It culminates with this thought: “And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet” (v. 14).
That’s it. That was His final message to the men He chose to follow Him and carry on His work. Serve each other. He’s telling them to follow His example, to be servants.
He says the servant isn’t greater than His master, and then He adds another amazing thought: “And the messengers aren’t more important than He that sends them” (v. 16).
In effect, what He’s telling them is that all their authority, all their true spiritual clout, will always and only exist “in Jesus.” It is a commission, but it is steeped in love.
Serve each other, He says, for you will be known for the love you have for one another. That, He says, is the path of blessing; it remains true today.
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The Lord has been really moving here in the Singles Ministry. We have been having a great turnout on Friday nights. Some new and exciting things have been going on. Pastor Scott has been teaching verse by verse through the Epistle of 1 John. There is still time to come out and join us, as we are only in chapter 3 of this great book that helps us evaluate where we are with the Lord.
