https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13&version=AKJV
A) And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him ……Satan gains access to the hearts of men in some way, possibly different for each person depending on their flaws and weaknesses. We must acknowledge our flaws and weaknesses and turn them over to Jesus so that His strength can be made perfect in them. Thus, we deny satan an opportunity to use them as windows. But when we don’t acknowledge our own faults, when we think we are so good, our living in denial leaves a backdoor open for the enemy of our souls.
B) Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 he riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself…..Jesus acknowledged His authority and then proceeded to humble himself by washing His disciples’feet. Paul cried that God had given him thorns to prevent him from being arrogant after experiencing heavenly visions. (2 Corinthians 12: 7-10) Great spiritual victories and advancements should make and keep us humble. We need not wait for God to give us thorns to humble us.
C) Jesus laid aside His loose garments….We must divest ourselves of every cover /image/emotion or anything that distracts or disturbs us from being humble. Humility is a magnet that attracts the graces and power of Christ. Without humility, we cannot get the power we need to love God and others as Christ commanded. Without humility, we are so filled with ourselves that there is nowhere left in us for Christ to pour His graces into. We block the graces we need for a fulfilling life.
D) 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.…..We do not have to understand what is happening to us before we submit to God’s will. When we insist on everything being explained to us and everything being planned out for us before cooperating with divine will, we are arguing with God’s omnipotence and omniscience.
E) 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.…. We should endeavor to always keep an open mind about our strong opinions. With new insight, we may have to retract even the most vehement oppositions expressed in any situation.
F) If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them………We may not literarily be washing the feet of others but we are called to be lowly of heart and not feel that we are entitled to respect or honor. In all situations, we must look for opportunities to glorify God and seek the other person’s good, because this will always make God happy. We look to comfort the other person and help their walk with God. We gently reprove as necessary and encourage others to repentance.
This is how we wash each other’s feet, in humility and love, just as Christ did. May we be blessed with the graces we need to serve God and each other here on earth as we would be expected to do in the heaven we long to end up in.
Hilltop Thoughts, Valley Strengths 