Mr Gifted

Let's be honest--we are impressed with superstars.  We love our heroes--even 'Christian' heroes.  Have you read--so and so's--book?  Seen her videos?  Go to his website--it is awesome!

I am taken back afresh as I read John 13.
Jesus begins this particular narrative by describing who He is--what makes Him tick:

 13:1* ¶ Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He now showed the disciples the full extent of his love.
 2* It was time for supper, and the Devil had already enticed Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to carry out his plan to betray Jesus.
 3* Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God.

Notice: 
  • Jesus knew His mission was almost over
  • Jesus wanted His followers to know the "full extent of his love"
  • Jesus knew:
    • The Father had given him authority over everything
    • That Jesus--had come from the Father
    • That Jesus--was about to return to the Father

So--with this settled---Jesus does what any purely gifted superstar would do:

 4* So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist,
 5* and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him.

It might be best to notice what Jesus did NOT do:

  • It's passover--a chance to really impress the 150,00 plus worshippers with any number of impressive things
    • how about emptying a few more graves?
    • how about preaching at the temple?
    • how about having a healing line?
  • But, here is Jesus huddled in a room with his chosen ones--His twelve--and He does the unimaginable---takes the place of a servant.

Here Jesus accomplishes four remarkable things:

  1. He washes feet--the task of a humble servant---not the actions of a Christian superstar
  2. He washes Judas' feet---as in the guy who is about to sell him for 30 pieces of silver.  Imagine what was going through Judas' mind?
  3. He sets a standard for all superstars who would follow Him--
  4. He sets a standard for all true followers of His:

What if we stop looking to be honoured and seek to:

  • pour the coffee at the potluck
  • wash the dishes!
  • sweep the floor
  • lock up the building
  • shovel the snow--cut the grass
The list is endless--but the point is simple:  


Peter knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that Peter had come from God and would return to God.  So Peter got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then Peter began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel Peter had around him.

(feel free to insert your name!)

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