The Full Extent of Jesus' Love!

John 13:1 - It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

These words lead us to the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet in the upper room. I'm sure the disciples were dumb-founded when they watched Jesus gather a basin and towel and kneeled down on his knees to wash their feet. "No Way!" was Peter's response. Very similar to what John the Baptist did when Jesus come to him to be baptized. It seems as though the roles are reversed. After he finished he asked them, "Do you understand what I have done for you?" I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. For no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him." (vss. 12-16)
Hmm? Now I'm confused too? Was Jesus telling the disciples that they weren't any better than anyone else or was he eluding to something else? Was he viewing them as the servants or the masters? What about himself? Was he describing himself as the servant or the master? His words don't seem to be rocket science? We all know that servants aren't greater than their masters, right? It seems as if he is taking on the role of the servant, in essence, telling the disciples if he is called to serve, they better know that they are also called to serve. I'm convinced that he is telling them, you have been close to me, but don't take that as being something that keeps you from "washing the feet of others." Serve others out of humility and love; love for God and love for each other. Remember, verse 1 said Jesus was going to show them the "full extent" of his love.
Oh, and lest I forget, in verse 17 he tells them they will be blessed if they do love/serve others. Over the last couple of months, I've been helping a homless man who desprately needs work and a place to lay his head at night. I've tried to find help, but to no avail. Today, I'm beginning to realize that up to this point all I wanted to do was help, now, I need to wash his feet. Not literally, but I need to make myself available to him and to serve him out of love for him and more importantly out of love for God. I'm beginning to have a closer look at what "the least of these" really looks like. What I've discovered is that they look an awful lot like Jesus!

Fasting For Lent

It is a tradition to give something up for the 46 days of Lent. Some give up smoking, some kind of food (sweets, french fries, etc.), soft drinks or the like. I've been trying to figure out what would be the best thing for me to fast during this time and I couldn't really come up with anything. Finally, today I think I've come up with something that should be effective, rather than doing without something I'm going to try to give something. God, speaking through Isaiah had something to say about the way the Israelites were fasting and worshiping, and I wonder if it doesn't speak to us today.

Isaiah 58:1-7 ^NIV "Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins. ² For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. ³ 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?' "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. ⁴ Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. ⁵ Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? ⁶ "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Did you bless anyone today? Beleive it or not, I did. Now who will it be tomorrow?

Have a blessed day!