Following Jesus' Example
Jesus was not a convential man.
Often, when Jesus taught, he challenged the status quo. He also liked to use object lessons and parables to illustrate his points about faith and a relationship with God.
One night after dinner, during the last week of his life before the resurrection, he finished eating, took off his outer garment, grabbed a towel and started to wash the disciples' feet.
Stunned, Peter protested, but Jesus said it had to be done. He had to allow Jesus, his rabbi, his teacher, his Lord, to become a servant and wash Peter's dirty, worn feet. So he did. Jesus washed all their feet that night. Then he said: You need to do this too.
Too often in Christianity today, there is an attitude of moral superiority. We love to build beautiful church buildings, boast of our attendance, brag about our programs and talk about the money we give. At the same time, we turn our nose up to the alcoholics and drug addicts and homeless and poor and sinful people. We're better than those people.
We simply don't want to get our hands dirty.
Jesus says to serve them as your would a master. Get on your knees and wash their feet. It doesn't matter if you a business man and they are a pauper - serve them. It doesn't matter if your an athlete and they're a math geek - serve them. It doesn't matter if you're from an affluent neighborhood and they live in the ghetto - serve them. It doesn't matter that you've never touched alcohol and they're slobbering drunk - serve them.
At the end of his object lesson, Jesus says this in John 13:16-17. "I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."
We know what Jesus asks of us. And we will be blessed if we follow his lead.
Often, when Jesus taught, he challenged the status quo. He also liked to use object lessons and parables to illustrate his points about faith and a relationship with God.
One night after dinner, during the last week of his life before the resurrection, he finished eating, took off his outer garment, grabbed a towel and started to wash the disciples' feet.
Stunned, Peter protested, but Jesus said it had to be done. He had to allow Jesus, his rabbi, his teacher, his Lord, to become a servant and wash Peter's dirty, worn feet. So he did. Jesus washed all their feet that night. Then he said: You need to do this too.
Too often in Christianity today, there is an attitude of moral superiority. We love to build beautiful church buildings, boast of our attendance, brag about our programs and talk about the money we give. At the same time, we turn our nose up to the alcoholics and drug addicts and homeless and poor and sinful people. We're better than those people.
We simply don't want to get our hands dirty.
Jesus says to serve them as your would a master. Get on your knees and wash their feet. It doesn't matter if you a business man and they are a pauper - serve them. It doesn't matter if your an athlete and they're a math geek - serve them. It doesn't matter if you're from an affluent neighborhood and they live in the ghetto - serve them. It doesn't matter that you've never touched alcohol and they're slobbering drunk - serve them.
At the end of his object lesson, Jesus says this in John 13:16-17. "I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."
We know what Jesus asks of us. And we will be blessed if we follow his lead.
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