You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am.
The word, ‘Lord,’ seems archaic and out of step with modern democratic standards. Do people really have to submit to Jesus as Lord? Can He rightfully claim to have authority over people?
Of course, if He is God. The One who created everything!
This fact alone naturally confers on Jesus the right to all power over the life of every human being on the earth.
What’s exceptional here is the kind of Lord Jesus is. A lord so gentle as to be described as a Teacher! Just how mild is understood when this Lord gets down on His knees and washes the dirty feet of His students.
It’s a pleasant thought. The one who is our Lord is also a meek and kind Teacher.
How misguided are those who think of God as a kind of cosmic policeman, watching to catch someone doing something wrong. On the contrary, our Lord comes to tenderly guide us in the path of goodness, mercy and love.
By the life He lived and the truths He shared, our Lord shows us how to live. This is what being a student of the Teacher is all about. Coming to know the wonderful character of our Lord!
And in this process, students of Jesus become more like Him!
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
Everyone who acknowledges Jesus as Lord should also take Him as their every day Teacher. In His patient leading we find freedom to make mistakes and grow at our own pace.
And we find in Him power to change our lives.
Whew - stinky feet! The task of washing feet was reserved for a servant. It wasn't a job most wanted. Few would volunteer. Especially with the sandals worn and dust and dirt from walking being the normal mode of transportation.
ReplyDeleteJesus volunteers for this.
We tend to whine about having to serve if the job isn't something we particularly like, or enjoy doing. Maybe we don't whine, we simply refuse.
What an incredible teacher; an incredible Lord!
When was the last time we volunteered for the worst job needing to be done?
How often do we volunteer to serve others in ways we don't like or want to do?