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Foot Washing

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Photo by Zé Zorzan on Unsplash

Passion Week Day 4

John 13:1-17
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. 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!” 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.” 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. [Emphasis mine.]

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Photo by Aaron Burden @ Unsplash.com

[Notes]
Lead by example. Jesus teaches the disciples this. The master is no greater than the servant. The power of God is no more important than in this scripture. Jesus talks about how he knew he would be betrayed and by whom. He makes a point of it in him washing the disciple’s feet. Then, He tells them to follow His example so they may be humbled and blessed.

Jesus was a very humble man. All of his life, he lived to be our savior! He knew. He accepted it. Although, as a man, he struggled with what he would have to go through. He even asked God if it were possible to remove it from Him. He knew it was his destiny to become our Redeemer.

How can you be a humble servant of the Lord?

Jesus Birth Story

  • 21 of 25 Advent Scripture image
  • 22 of 25 Advent Scripture image
  • 23-of-25-Advent-Scripture image

This is such a long story spread out over the Gospel because it’s told from the perspective of 3 apostles. I decided to share it in gallery form with the scripture images.

I’m not going to share a whole lot because I want you to allow the Holy Spirit to wash over you as you read these scriptures. Allow His word to sink in. Allow it to fill you to overflowing with blessings and love. Share it if you like. Bless others with it.

I’ll post one more like this to end this Advent Series.

God’s blessings upon all of you!

Mary’s Shocking News

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Scripture:

I posted 2 years ago about Mary in great detail. To get a better grip on Mary in this life stage, read/listen to the post here.

We heard about Elizabeth in a previous blog post. The same angel that visited Elizabeth, Gabriel, now visits Mary. The shocking news had Mary in a quandary about the whole situation.

It’s time for the Savior of the world to come as a man and live out His earthly ministry. We heard in and throughout the Old Testament about a Savior, the Messiah, coming to save us. He’s the long-awaited messiah.

Poor lowly Mary is only a teenager. However, she’s been promised to Joseph in marriage. His betrothed. Neither of which has had intimate relations. Virgins. Mary being a virgin is a main factor of God having favor with her. She’s a good Jewish girl.

She was dumbfounded at the concept of becoming pregnant since she is a virgin.

You read the interaction between Gabriel and Mary in the scripture. Gabriel tells Mary that she’ll conceive of the Holy Spirit. In v. 35 it says this:

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.

Luke 1:26-38

Mary couldn’t argue with that. She accepted it. But, she added this at the end of their interaction in v. 38:

“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Mary had some doubts. Who wouldn’t? That’s a pretty major thing; become pregnant while still a virgin. I’m sure she also had major concerns being not fully married to Joseph, yet.

How would you feel if it were you going through that situation? What would be going through your mind?

It’s scary, to say the least. In those times, they stoned/crucified people for offenses. Betraying a spouse to be… that’s infidelity. They didn’t take that very lightly. Read the Bible for yourself and see. Don’t take my word for it. It’s all there in black and white.

So, the big news… The Messiah is coming! That’s exciting! Joyous! How does that make you feel? Me?

If I lived in that time where I could encounter Jesus in person… I’d fall face down at His feet honoring, praising, and worshipping Him.

But, before he’s grown I’d try to find a way to get to Him to meet him in person. I’d definitely be one of the women who followed Jesus throughout his ministry. The ones who experienced things just out of arms reach of everything.

Your turn! Go!

Prayer:

Dear Abba Yah, Adonai, I lift up every reader, even the brief visitors, of this blog. I pray that even if just one sentence, or one word, is written that the reader will be so blessed that they don’t want to leave Your word and Your presence. I pray they are blessed beyond measure and their needs are met. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Self-Worth Part 2

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Romans 12:1-3 imageIt’s not about self-love nor loving yourself more.

Let’s face it. Our human nature in and of itself is selfish. We want what we want when we want it.

There’s a lot of stuff out there in the world that says we need to love ourselves and do it more in order to be better people and be worthy.

That’s just the opposite to what Yahweh says in His word.

In Romans 12:1-3 Paul wrote to the people:

So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship. Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. Because God has given me a special gift, I have something to say to everyone among you. Do not think you are better than you are. You must decide what you really are by the amount of faith God has given you. (Emphasis added)

Do not be shaped by this world. Do not think you are better than you are.

By focusing on self we are taking focus away from Yahweh.

In Matthew 6:33-34 he writes to the people:

Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well. So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Emphasis added)

Therefore, our only hope to succeed in putting God first is to begin by trusting fully in His promise to cover our sinfulness with His righteous life.

In 1 John 4:10 it says: This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God’s love for us. He sent his Son to die in our place to take away our sins.

Jesus’ life was characterized by submission to the Father’s will, service to others, and prayer. It is interesting that Jesus never chased after worldly ambition in any way and never followed the glory of this world.

We’re to be imitators of Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.

There was only one goal that Jesus considered worthy of His talents–the glory of the Father.

The world will tell us to be someone, to achieve, to live the good life in this world. All that is a lie. It does not bring fulfillment but only pain and disappointment to those who give their lives to it.

In 1 Timothy 6:6-9 it says: Serving God does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have. We brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out. But, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that. Those who want to become rich bring temptation to themselves and are caught in a trap. They want many foolish and harmful things that ruin and destroy people.

I say that because most people tie up their identity and worth in things, stuff in the world.

We are children of the most high God, Yahweh. When we identify with that and live our lives to bring honor and glory to Yahweh we are valuable and worthy to Him.

That’s more important because our home is in Heaven with Yahweh, not earth. Earth is only a pit-stop along our journey.

In Hebrews 2:6-7 it says: But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor.

It can be difficult, in the day to day of driving to work, running errands, and making dinner, to remember that we are not of this world. That we did not come from it, and will not come back to it in the end. We become used to the routine, when all the while, we are wearing crowns of glory right atop our heads. How can it be that the man stuck in traffic next to you is just beneath the angels in heaven in terms of holiness? Because we are the sons and daughters of a King, who crazy loves us. Even while making dinner.

Wear your crown imagecrown, and believe you’re worthy of it. Your Father, Yahweh, says you are.

 

 

Quote:

God sees tremendous value in His children because when He looks at them, He sees Jesus. – Mike Mobley