Thank you for your patience. You haven’t received a wisbit since November 1st because I’ve had to change webmasters. I’m gratefully happy to be in touch with you again.
Jesus Who Squats
As I’ve meditated on Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, many moments have riveted me—especially as I have put myself in the place of Jesus squatting at Judas’s feet. There I am, vulnerable enough to be kicked, looking up at my friend who plans to betray me with great love and washing his feet. Can I serve someone who opposes me? Someone who is ready to deceive and hurt me?
After several days of meditating on this passage, I thought I’d exhausted it. But then the word “knew” stood out in these verses: “Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal . . .” (John 13:1, 3-4). Jesus knew so much more than the rest. He knew all about timing and the disciples did not. He knew(interactive relationship) the Father as they did not. He knew he had all things under his power. With a little prodding from William Barclay (The Daily Bible Study Series), I saw myself as nothing like Jesus. Jesus knew all these things, but his knowledge didn’t make him impatient saying, “When will these folks get it??!!”
But with a little knowledge about the Bible and a little interactive knowledge of God, I become full of pride and wonder when others will get what I get. Jesus chose love over pride. He gave to them selflessly and sacrificially. I don’t think it was hard because he truly loved them. He understood that they didn’t understand. I am called to the same place—to choose love and mercy over pride. I need to be a “love-them-all” instead of a “know-it-all.”
I am overwhelmed by Jesus’ love. As I led others in this passage, I saw that same sense of being overwhelmed—even discouragement as they thought, I’ll never be like that! So it’s important to confess to God our inadequacy and worship Jesus who truly loved and gave himself in ways that leave us breathless. So as disciples of Jesus, we kneel in worship before the one who squats before us in service.
If you happen to have a copy of Savoring God’s Word, this study is on page 186.
Grace and peace,
Jan Johnson
www.JanJohnson.org
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