Friday | Week 11
How can we show the most honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? We submit to him and we follow his example in submitting to others. The idea of submission in today’s America is completely foreign, and frankly, unacceptable. It’s a bad word. Americans are not wired to submit. We are wired to follow the American dream. We are wired to compete and to succeed at all costs. We celebrate and admire the best and brightest in our society. We look to the rich and famous to push our culture and our “norms” forward. Submitting to someone else is a bad word in America, 2020.
Yet, when we read the story of the Last Supper, we see the King of kings and Lord of lords bending down to wash his disciples’ feet. Jesus didn’t wash only those who were most devoted to him (i.e. Peter and John). He washed Judas’ feet as well. He took on the role of the servant and washed the feet of the person who would sell him for 30 silver coins. Why did Jesus do this? Why was it necessary for God to submit to his creation?
I believe Jesus did this as the final act to show his disciples what it truly meant to follow him. As followers of Jesus, we are called to serve as Jesus served. When we serve others, we model Jesus, and we spread the rich, fragrance of Christ. This fragrance is at its sweetest when we serve the least of these. Who are the least of these? The Bible gives us many examples, including the poor, the orphan, the widow, the alien, the prisoner and the “sinner”. It is easy to submit to people who agree with us and who think as we think. It is very difficult to wash the feet of people who are hostile to us. Yet, Jesus’ great commission is to go and make disciples of all the nations. (see Matthew 28)
Not only do we draw others to Jesus when we wash their feet, but we also receive a blessing from God when we do so. (see John 13:17)
Lord, humble us by showing us more of you so that we can show more of you to others. Thank you for being the perfect model we can look to as we live our lives for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.