Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
As Jesus was getting ready to leave His disciples and go to the cross, He had this one last meal with them. They had no idea what was ahead. In many ways, these were His last words to them, but I’m sure they didn’t really “get” what He was talking about in many ways, until after He died and rose again.
How many times have you been in a situation where you had no idea that you were talking to a person for the last time? They probably didn’t either. But later, the importance of their words come back to you and you remember. Imagine as the disciples remembered this conversation, this whole evening for that matter. Jesus knew it was their last time together as the Twelve, before He went to the cross.
How many times have you been in a situation where you had no idea that you were talking to a person for the last time? They probably didn't either. But later, the importance of their words come back to you and you remember. Click To TweetFirst, He began by washing their feet. By this time, they all seemed to understand that He was Messiah. Now He was washing their feet? He was living out His servanthood. As Peter said, “I’m the one that needs to wash your feet!” But Jesus told him that it was important for Jesus to wash Peter’s feet, as well as the others. You couldn’t find a more humble job back then. Washing feet was a dirty job!
But as they remembered the conversation later, I’m sure another thing he said was even more comforting. He wasn’t leaving them like orphans, to fend for themselves. After three years they had been with Him all the time. Soon, they wouldn’t have Him anymore. But here He is promising to send them a Helper, the Holy Spirit, who will help them remember what He taught them. Someone who would guide them and be with them all the time. Even Jesus had been unable to do that when He was here on earth!
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,
to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth,
whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him.
You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Yet a little while and the world will see me no more,
but you will see me.
Because I live, you also will live.John 14:15-19 ESV
The definition of a servant/slave is not being someone who does what he is told, but rather someone who does the work no one else will do. This has crossed my mind quite often since I heard it! It has been very convicting. Jesus definitely lived it out, didn’t He?
Call to Action: Read this passage in light of what Jesus was facing in the next few days and in light of Saturday’s comments on slavery/servanthood that we Americans have so little understanding of. What a challenge to us! We so seldom understand what it truly means to get our hands dirty in order to serve those we love. How will this kind of servanthood show in just one area of your life where it is needed? Write it down. Ask GOD to show you how to work it out in real life in that area of your life. Ask Him for the wisdom needed as well as the ability to do it. You are not an orphan. The Holy Sprit is in you and with you. He will guide you in terms of what needs to happen and will also enable you to do the right thing. You aren’t an orphan. He is with you!
