On Thursday of the final week in the life of Jesus we have the stories of the upper room where Jesus observed the Passover meal, washed the disciple’s feet and instituted the meal of the new covenant. John records a long section of the teachings of Jesus in chapters 14-17. We also have the stories of the betrayal by Judas, Jesus praying in Gethsemane, his arrest and illegal night trial conducted by the Jewish Sanhedrin.

Today I want to focus on Jesus washing the feet of the disciples in the upper room as recorded in John 13:1-17 and view it as a picture of the incarnation. We will compare it with Philippians 2:5-11.

1. Jesus knew that he had come from God and was going to God
   • Jesus is in very nature God
2. Jesus got up from the meal
   • Jesus, not considering his equality with God something to be grasped, got up from his position of eternal, pre-existent equality with God
3. Jesus lay aside his outer clothing
   • Jesus left his splendor and glory with the Father
4. Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist
   • Jesus clothed himself with humanity
5. Jesus took the position of a slave and washed the disciple’s feet
   • Jesus made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant
6. Jesus finished his task, put on his clothes and returned to the table
   • Jesus finished his work on earth, ascended to the Father and was exalted to the highest place

So what does this have to do with us?

After washing their feet, Jesus told the disciples:

“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 13:13-17 NIV

Jesus does not call us to sit around discussing the mystery of the incarnation. He calls us to live out that mystery.

He lives in us. The church is his body in the world today.

We are to incarnate the community – and wash feet.

Grace and Peace,
Terry

Related Posts from 7 Days Leading Up To Easter

1. Sunday – What Kind Of Entry Was It?
2. Monday – 12 Things Children Can Teach Us This Easter
3. Tuesday – Seeing The Unnoticed
4. Wednesday – The Calm Before The Storm
5. Thursday – How Washing The Disciple’s Feet Pictures The Incarnation
6. Friday – It’s Friday But . . .
7. Saturday – Between The Cross And The Empty Tomb

Wednesday is a day of silence in the final week in the life of Jesus. There is no biblical reference to any activity on the part of Jesus or the disciples.

We can only assume what might have gone on that day. Did Jesus spend time alone in prayer as was his custom? Did he enjoy the closeness and fellowship of friends?

Whatever Jesus did, that Wednesday was the calm before the storm. In a few hours he would be facing arrest, trials, beatings and ultimately crucifixion.

Most of us find silence difficult.

We try to fill the emptiness of our hearts with noise and busyness. Noise keeps us from focusing on those things we don’t want to think about.

“Silence is frightening because it strips us as nothing else does, throwing us upon the stark realities of our life.” – Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines

But this is a silent Wednesday. Here we learn the discipline of quieting every voice, including our own inner voice as well as outer voices, so we can hear God.

If the mission of Jesus were marked with times of silence, we too need this habit.

Why should we practice the habit of silence?

• To follow the example of Jesus
• To better hear God’s voice
• To regain spiritual perspective
• To affirm God’s will
• To prepare for difficult times
• To help withstand trials

Give the discipline of silence a try.

Grace and Peace,
Terry

Related Posts from 7 Days Leading Up To Easter

1. Sunday – What Kind Of Entry Was It?
2. Monday – 12 Things Children Can Teach Us This Easter
3. Tuesday – Seeing The Unnoticed
4. Wednesday – The Calm Before The Storm
5. Thursday – How Washing The Disciple’s Feet Pictures The Incarnation
6. Friday – It’s Friday But . . .
7. Saturday – Between The Cross And The Empty Tomb

The final day of Jesus’ public ministry was on Tuesday of that last week. It was a long day of confrontation, controversy and rejection. Mark records the stories of this day starting in Mark 11:20 and continuing through Mark 14:9.

Let’s look at one of those stories told by Mark – a widow Jesus observed giving her offering in the temple courts.

We are not going to talk about the offering. We are not going to consider the men who made a big show of their gifts or even the woman who quietly gave out of her poverty.

I want us to consider Jesus and how he noticed the unnoticed. I think we can learn a lot about the mission he sends us on from his example.

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44 NIV

Do you take time to notice?

It does not seem that the widow gave her offering to be noticed in contrast to those who made their giving a big show, but Jesus saw her in her quietness.

Sometimes we are distracted by the loud, boisterous show of some while neglecting to see the quiet ones around us. Sometimes we’re just too consumed by our own agenda to notice.

Wasn’t Jesus always noticing those around him; the city of Jerusalem, the widow, a friend who denied him, a thief on a cross next to his? He sets the example for us to keep our eyes open.

Take some time today to notice those around you.

Grace and Peace,
Terry

Related Posts from 7 Days Leading Up To Easter

1. Sunday – What Kind Of Entry Was It?
2. Monday – 12 Things Children Can Teach Us This Easter
3. Tuesday – Seeing The Unnoticed
4. Wednesday – The Calm Before The Storm
5. Thursday – How Washing The Disciple’s Feet Pictures The Incarnation
6. Friday – It’s Friday But . . .
7. Saturday – Between The Cross And The Empty Tomb

On Tuesday of what is commonly called “Holy Week” or “Passion Week” we find Jesus in the temple area. Mark 11:11 tells us that on Monday Jesus observed the activity at the temple, returned to Bethany to spend the night and came back to the temple the next day. The stories of Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:12-19; Luke 19:45-48 record Jesus driving money changers out of the temple, healing the lame at the temple, and responding to critics of children who were praising him.

The children were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” The scribes and chief priests were upset about this and challenged Jesus about it. He responded by quoting Psalm 8:2.

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

” ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?” – Matthew 21:14-16 NIV

Learn from the children.

Here are 12 things we can learn as we watch children this Easter. They are some of the natural qualities of young children that Wynn McGregor mentions in The Way of the Child.

1. openness
2. trust
3. energy
4. wonder
5. enthusiasm
6. awe
7. laughter
8. creativity
9. receptivity
10. curiosity
11. joy
12. truthfulness

Listen to the children this Easter. We might get a little better at being Christ followers if we follow their example.

Grace and Peace,
Terry

Join the Conversation: Of the 12 qualities of young children listed by Wynn McGregor, which one challenges you the most? What keeps you from displaying these qualities?

Related Posts from 7 Days Leading Up To Easter

1. Sunday – What Kind Of Entry Was It?
2. Monday – 12 Things Children Can Teach Us This Easter
3. Tuesday – Seeing The Unnoticed
4. Wednesday – The Calm Before The Storm
5. Thursday – How Washing The Disciple’s Feet Pictures The Incarnation
6. Friday – It’s Friday But . . .
7. Saturday – Between The Cross And The Empty Tomb

I hope you will join me every day next week as we focus on the last week of Jesus’ life leading up to the resurrection.

1. Sunday – What Kind Of Entry Was It?
2. Monday – 12 Things Children Can Teach Us This Easter
3. Tuesday – Seeing The Unnoticed
4. Wednesday – The Calm Before The Storm
5. Thursday – How Washing The Disciple’s Feet Pictures The Incarnation
6. Friday – It’s Friday But . . .
7. Saturday – Between The Cross And The Empty Tomb

Grace and Peace,
Terry

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and there’s about a foot of snow on the ground. I want to cook a great steak for my special girl (that’s my wife Beth if you didn’t know) but don’t want to uncover the grill and stand outside in the cold.

But that’s OK because I plan to cook a great Rib Eye in the oven. I use Alton Brown’s pan seared Rib Eye method and it’s never failed me yet.

You’ll need:

• a boneless rib eye steak about 1 1/2 inches thick
• Canola or olive oil to coat the steak
• Salt and black pepper
• A cast iron skillet

You can find Alton’s method for cooking the steak here.

I’ll let you choose the sides, the ambiance and anything else you want to give your sweetie.

Enjoy!

Grace and peace,
Terry

Try it and let me know how it went!