Blessed In The Doing Not In The Knowing

I have no idea what we are doing as Christians these days. It shouldn't be as complicated as what we are making it out to be. We don't have to invent anything or try anything new. Why we can't simply do what Jesus did is beyond my comprehension. It seems that we only want to use the gospel as a suggestion and not the example it was given us to be. What am I going on about? Check this out, from Jesus' mouth:

For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:15-17)

Jesus gave a wonderful illustration of servant-leadership which is the basis of the Kingdom of God. He set the example and then said, now do as I have done. But his words encompass more than this one simple act. These ares his last moments of instructions as the shadow of the cross has already fallen on him. It is a summary of all that he taught: Do as I have done. And look at what he says, "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

We can go to college or university and study everything that has ever been written about the Word of God and yet fail to enter the Kingdom because we have not known enough to do the Word. Jesus spent three years with his disciples for a reason, that they would learn from him and do the same thing, which they did. When we look at the likes of Peter and then later Paul, we see how their lives followed that of the Master. So what don't we understand about this?

If we want to follow Jesus then we need to know Jesus, what he taught and the example he set. We need to be possessed by the Spirit in power just as he was. We have to love the unlovable just as he did. We have to go to them and not wait for them to come to us. We have to tell everyone that the Kingdom is at hand, to repent and to receive Jesus Christ. We need to let go of any claim we have on this world and operate from the Kingdom. We have to be surrendered morning, afternoon and evening to Father's will, seeking nothing for ourselves and always for Father's glory. Then we will be blessed.

"You should do as I have done to you." We are not isolationists. We don't remove ourselves from those who need Jesus. We give ourselves wholeheartedly to the mission of salvation. We put all our resources to that aim. If we are doing any less then we are not following Jesus' example. If our needs come before our neighbour's or our Father's will then we are not following Jesus. Anything less than our all is falling short of the example he set for us. It is simple but no one said it would be easy. It requires total surrender each and every day with no time off.  "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." It will cost you everything but you will be blessed in the doing, not in the knowing.

Serving Jesus As He Wants

All Christians are in love with the idea of serving Jesus. He has done so much for us, how could we not want to do so much for him? The problem happens when he takes us at our word. It is like when someone tells me that they want to help but then they tell me what they are not willing to do. A real offer to help is to help with what I need to have done, not what they perceive I need done.

When we tell Jesus we want to serve him it is never to be according to what we are willing to do but what Jesus needs us to do. To serve is our choice but what gets assigned to us is the Lord's choice. This is what causes the conflict, when the Lord's needs do not match our expectations. That is when we begin to resist Jesus. We see an example of what we do almost daily in an incident with Peter.

Jesus was demonstrating a potent lesson in the type of leaders he had trained them to be, but Peter did not understand:

He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?” (John 13:6)

Peter's idea of leadership did not match up with what Jesus was demonstrating. He had a fixed idea of what power looked like and how a king should behave, yet here was their king washing their feet?

Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t understand now, but afterward you will know.” (v. 7)

I am sure this is how Jesus responds to us most of the time. Many lessons we face cannot be understood in the moment because we have not yet gained a mature perspective. This is why we trust Jesus. We may not understand today but a day will come when we will understand the purpose. It is enough to trust that he loves us and desires the best for us. Yet, we react like Peter:

“You will never wash my feet—ever!” Peter said. (v. 8)

There are so many things that we refuse to do, so many directions we refuse to take, so many words we refuse to speak because we do not understand. We want to do what we are comfortable with, what we are familiar with, what we understand. But our service to Jesus has many purposes. He uses our service to bring blessings to others. He takes great joy out of fellowship with us in our service. And, he grows us, maturing us in the process of our service. For this reason he calls us to serve where we can't rely on our own strength and have to draw closer to him to receive his strength.

If your desire is to grow into the full measure of Jesus, stop resisting him. Stop saying never. Stop the wrestling. Trust is the cornerstone of our relationship with Jesus and without it we cannot serve him. So let's put away the pretty sentiment and get down to work. He has called you to something beyond your ability. Trust him and step into it. Serve him well.

Passion Week: The Example

It is the end of the day, time to relax and enjoy the evening meal. Only this is not just any meal; it is the last one that Jesus will participate in, this side of eternity. The hour was approaching when Jesus would be separated from these men he had spent three years teaching and training. They had traveled much of Israel together, teaching, serving, learning, growing, changing. These men had no idea what was about to take place, but Jesus did. He had only a few short hours to emphasize the important lessons he had taught because after this night everything would become like chaos to them.

Everything that could be done had been done. Everything had been taught. The training was complete. The betrayer had already begun his betrayal. The trap was being set, so Jesus stood and took the place of the servant or the host. In a very poignant moment Jesus placed a beautiful cap on all that he had taught them by washing his disciples feet. This was usually the responsibility of the host who would have a servant perform this duty for guests as they arrived at the house. Here Jesus took the role of the servant which was a portrayal of what he had done; God coming as a man in order to do for man what man could not do for himself. But this was their Master, their teacher, the Christ who was washing their feet. They should have been washing his. Maybe now they understood how John the Baptist had felt. We know it made one of them feel uncomfortable.

Peter had a big problem with this, as we might expect and Jesus tried to tell him that there was a purpose in him doing this:

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”(John 13:6-7)

Peter protested but Jesus told him that if he did not allow him to wash his feet then he could have nothing to do with him. Was Jesus speaking of what was to happen the next day? That this was simply a foreshadowing of the greater cleansing that would happen with the blood of Jesus? Whatever it was, Peter now wanted all of it; he did not want to be separated from Jesus.

Once Jesus had finished the washing he left the role of the servant and took his proper place again as the host. He explained:

“Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 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. 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." (John 13:12-17)

With a very simple yet profound gesture Jesus summed up three years of ministry by telling them that he had set the example of what they are to do. Now the blessing will be found in doing these things. Jesus did not come to be served but to serve. He called his disciples not to a lordship position but to the place of servants. There is no way that the world could learn about Jesus from men who sought power for themselves. These disciples, who would become apostles, men of great influence and power, must never lose sight of their calling as servants. Jesus said, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet." 

Jesus clearly stated, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." Go and make disciples as I have discipled you. Go and train and prepare others as I have trained and prepared you. Today too many apostles, pastors, evangelists, teachers and prophets have taken on celebrity status. Leadership in the church and denomination is becoming a "career" choice again. So many have the ambition of becoming an overseer or an administrator and see their lowly position as temporary, only a stepping stone. How we must grieve our Lord with such an attitude and perspective.

What a wonderful, precious thing it is that Jesus Christ, Son of God, living Word, did taking my place, dying on the cross for me, a nobody. In turn he says "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." Obviously I can't die to save anyone but I can lay my life down in service to the lost. Jesus set the example in the way he served with no thanks or appreciation being shown. He did not live off of the admiration of adoring crowds. He served whether people loved him or hated him. He did it in obedience to the Father and in love for those without a shepherd. He says, I set for you an example.  

The world needs to see Jesus not just hear about him. We need a major attitude check and a deep renewal in the Holy Spirit. This evening, as we reflect on this final meal, it is good for us to reflect on our service as well. We are more than worshipers; we are missionaries, ambassadors, healers and teachers. We are those who intercede for the lost, the channels of food and clothing, the vessels that carry God's blessings to the lost. Jesus has been our example and it is time to do as he has done. And he told us that the blessing is found in the obedience.