John 13:12-17
Boy, this hurts. Jesus indicts me and many others right here by His legal standard--His Word. Jesus brings to the table not just feet washing, but every other example given us by His life.
Here's what Jesus is saying: Is it true that you name me as your Lord and teacher; that you call yourself a disciple of me (v. 13)? Well, then, logic says that those things I do are things you are to mimic, since indeed you are learning from me and are obedient to me (v. 14). I set the example and you follow it. Isn't that the way the teacher/student relationship works (vs. 15)? Truly, truly, I say to you (here's the crucial part), if you do not follow the example of your teacher, what you are in fact saying is that you are greater than your teacher (v. 16).
Or, another way of stating verse 16: By following the example of the teacher, you raise Him up as Lord, for you have exalted His ways.
Yet, another way: By not following the example, the Lordship of Christ in your life is called into question.
And just like that, Jesus indicts me as a hard-headed, hard-hearted, disobedient ingrate. The context here is feet washing, but Jesus gave many examples for the sake of the followship of His disciples. So with this passage, Jesus brings to light not just "sin" but every act of disobedience: overlooked (ignored I should say) opportunities for charity, overlooked opportunities to share God's love, overlooked opportunities for evangelism, overlooked opportunities of...you name it.
If you think about it, every example Teacher Jesus gave us had to do with serving someone else. And all of those pre-Cross examples of service culminated in the upper room with the greatest and latest example of service, Jesus washing feet. "If you do what I do, you show that you are my follower. If you do not do what I do, you show that you do not follow me." (James 2:14-26)
I'm convicted today. I'm so glad that, at present, Jesus is not the Judge but rather my Great High Priest! Let's all spend a moment in the confessional of our hearts, and then let's go serve somebody!
Have a great day. Pray for me as I address the Senate this morning. I'm going to share Philippians 4:8-9 with them.
