Learning to Lovewell: W6 - TUE
Give Glory Where Glory is Due
John 13 6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.”11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
You can see how difficult it was for the disciples to receive this unimaginable act that Jesus was giving them. Peter, their self-professed spokesperson, was the first to protest. Peter knew he should be the one washing Jesus’ feet, not the other way around.
Jesus needed Peter to understand that the moment was bigger than just the washing of the feet. Jesus desperately wanted Peter to know that his kingdom isn’t about violence or gaining power and authority over others. Peter would continue to wrestle with these lessons as in just a few hours, he would pull out a sword to try to fight off the army who came to arrest Jesus. Jesus, instead, would heal the one Peter hurt and tell him to put his sword away. Then, afraid, confused, and lost, Peter would end up denying that he ever knew Jesus to a crowd of people standing outside Jesus’ trial with the Jewish leaders.
Luke tells us that immediately after Peter’s final betrayal, 61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter…62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. (Luke 22:61-62, NLT)
I believe Peter finally came face to face with the gap between himself, and Jesus. He realized that no matter how hard he tried, how much he did, how “good” he was, he would never be able to close that gap. The only way forward was to exclaim he was nothing without Christ.
When we realize that what makes us special is Christ in us, the hope of glory, then we realize that our lives are not about gaining glory for ourselves, but pointing more people to Jesus. The apostle Paul once wrote, ”whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.“ (I Corinthians 10:31, NLT). We are to bring glory to God, not ourselves; attention to him, not us. That’s what happens in servant leadership; we live our lives for Jesus and those he’s called us to serve, not ourselves. That’s what Jesus did for us. He poured himself out for us until there was nothing left; then came resurrection.
When we pour ourselves out for others, he will continue to give us life that we may continue to love, and to serve, for his honor.
John 13 6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.”11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
You can see how difficult it was for the disciples to receive this unimaginable act that Jesus was giving them. Peter, their self-professed spokesperson, was the first to protest. Peter knew he should be the one washing Jesus’ feet, not the other way around.
Jesus needed Peter to understand that the moment was bigger than just the washing of the feet. Jesus desperately wanted Peter to know that his kingdom isn’t about violence or gaining power and authority over others. Peter would continue to wrestle with these lessons as in just a few hours, he would pull out a sword to try to fight off the army who came to arrest Jesus. Jesus, instead, would heal the one Peter hurt and tell him to put his sword away. Then, afraid, confused, and lost, Peter would end up denying that he ever knew Jesus to a crowd of people standing outside Jesus’ trial with the Jewish leaders.
Luke tells us that immediately after Peter’s final betrayal, 61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter…62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. (Luke 22:61-62, NLT)
I believe Peter finally came face to face with the gap between himself, and Jesus. He realized that no matter how hard he tried, how much he did, how “good” he was, he would never be able to close that gap. The only way forward was to exclaim he was nothing without Christ.
When we realize that what makes us special is Christ in us, the hope of glory, then we realize that our lives are not about gaining glory for ourselves, but pointing more people to Jesus. The apostle Paul once wrote, ”whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.“ (I Corinthians 10:31, NLT). We are to bring glory to God, not ourselves; attention to him, not us. That’s what happens in servant leadership; we live our lives for Jesus and those he’s called us to serve, not ourselves. That’s what Jesus did for us. He poured himself out for us until there was nothing left; then came resurrection.
When we pour ourselves out for others, he will continue to give us life that we may continue to love, and to serve, for his honor.
- Why do you think we’re so obsessed with what others think about us?
- How can we start today, making sure that our lives draw more attention to Jesus, than to ourselves, one kind act of love at a time?
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