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BLOGGING THROUGH THE BOOK OF JOHN
(OK, so this is out of order and I was *supposed* to do 12 today... but I thought I'd already done 12, so I did 13... since I don't have time to go back and re-do it, I'll post 12 tomorrow... sorry about that!)
CHAPTER 13
(John 13:1) Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.
That verse makes me sad. Jesus knew it was over (well his time on Earth anyway), and it was time to say good bye to his disciples. He loved them very much, and to the very end (even though he knew they would all either betray him, abandon him, or deny they knew him.)
(John 13:2-9) It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
We are all servants, foot washers if you will. We have to humble ourselves to serve others and not just think of ourselves. Jesus was God, and he humbled himself enough to wash feet. How much more should we do?
(John 13:10-11) 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.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
But he still washed Judas' feet. Even though he knew he would betray him, he still loved him. That had to have been hard. It is a plain example for us though. No matter how much we dislike a person, we still have to treat them with respect and humility and love.
(John 13:12-9)After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 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. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
Jesus was a show vs. tell type of teacher. He taught by example, and not just telling them to do things. His methods were much more effective than if he had simply sat them down and told them what to do. Because he spent the time showing them, they had a more deeper understanding of how to preach his word.
(John 13:18-21) “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I Am the Messiah. I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”
Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”
Ouch! It had to hurt the disciples to hear that, and it had to make Judas' heart beat faster.
(John 13:22-23) The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table.
John is talking about himself here. He was sitting next to Jesus. We need to talk about ourselves the way John did. Kelly~ the disciple Jesus loves. (insert your name)~ the disciple Jesus loves. We don't need to forget that.
(John 13:24-30)Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. So Judas left at once, going out into the night.
Ah, Judas. Poor Judas. Poor misguided Judas. BUT he had a purpose in life. Jesus chose him because he knew what he would do. Someone had to betray him. Jesus (nor the Devil) MADE Judas betray Jesus. Judas had a choice, but he chose to go through with his plan.
(John 13:30-35)As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son he will soon give glory to the Son. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
Jesus is giving them his last instructions. LOVE each other. Because when you LOVE each OTHER, you prove to the world that you are a disciple of God. We Christians forget that at times. We forget to love. Lots of people see Christians as people who hate or discriminate. Jesus didn't discriminate, and he didn't judge. He said only God had that right (and he's right!). We are no one's judge. Our job is to love all, and let God sort it out.
(John 13:36-38)Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”
And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”
“But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”
Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.
Another ouch! Peter thought he was ready to die for Jesus, but Jesus knew better. He knew that he wasn't ready. Sometimes, we tell Jesus we are ready for things, but he knows we really aren't. We can get mad at Jesus for not giving us what we want at the time, but in reality, he's saving us from a terrible mistake. He knows what we can handle, and will work us up to where he wants us to be.
Imperfectly Yours,
~*~Kelly~*~
Chapter 7
Chapter 6
Chapter 5
Chapter 4
Chapter 3
Chapter 2
Chapter 1
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