2 Chron 17-18; John 13:1-20

When I was young I had a lot of pain in my legs, especially at night.  I can remember my mother lovingly rubbing, massaging my legs until I fell asleep. It wasn’t something that she had to do; it was an expression of love.  It was a selfless act; one that would have been performed by a servant 150 years ago. My legs were the source of my pain; not my back or my neck or my arms, just my legs needed repair at the moment.

When Christ washed His disciples’ feet, He (like Mom) was performing an act of servitude – an act that the lowliest servant in the house would have had to perform.  They didn’t need their head, their arms, their bodies clean, only their feet. And yet, he washed each one of their feet, even the one who would betray Him, demonstrating the selflessness and humility the disciples would need after Christ ascended into Heaven.  If the disciples were to carry out the message that the Christ had come and all the law and prophesies had been fulfilled through Him, then they needed to be able to place others above themselves.  The disciples already had a problem with entitlement, placing themselves second to others’ needs had to be taught by the Master.

As brothers and sisters in Christ, there is not one who is more important than the other.  We all have different spiritual gifts and talents that could and should be used for the glory of Christ’s name.  Yet, each of us needs to remind ourselves those others’ gifts are no greater of lesser than our own; we are the same in God’s eyes.  In remembering, God blesses.

There are many messengers that God, himself, has sent us. We have pastors, leadership teams, the heads of a dozen committees, and volunteers who step out in the spirit of a servant. When we step out and put others before ourselves, we welcome the One whom God sent, and in turn, welcome the Father.

Thank you, Mom for your selflessness; it was a lesson well taught.

Tags: 2 Chronicles, Bayside Church Woodland, Bayside Woodland, Bible Study, John