Jump!

Have you ever been betrayed? Have you ever put your trust in someone or something and had it backfire? Have you ever thought you knew someone only to find out later they weren’t at all who you thought they were or at least for a time you really questioned that. Sometimes we are boldly, emphatically betrayed. Other times we feel betrayed maybe because we don’t understand the reasoning behind the actions of others and then the enemy deceives us into believing a lie. But, whether we truly have been betrayed or it just feels that way there are very real hurdles to jump in order to get through a season like that.

In John 13, Jesus teaches us how to deal with the painful affects of betrayal and distrust. The chapter opens by saying, “Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave…” We can bank on this… whenever change is on the horizon the enemy lurks (i.e. prowls, lies in wait, loiters, hangs about, waits, creeps around). Need proof? The very next verse says “…the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot…to betray Jesus.” There he is...the enemy! BUT, in verse 3 it says, “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power…” We have that same power living in us!!! Then, we are told Jesus begins to wash the disciple’s feet. What is not stated, but we know for sure is that Jesus didn’t just wash Peter’s feet (whom he talks to in the passage), and John’s and James’…those who loved Him. He also washed Judas’. Judas is a part of this scene in the beginning of the chapter and throughout the dialogue until verse 30 where it says at the end of the verse, “he went out. And it was night.”

This washing the disciples feet thing is really not at all what we’ve typically experienced in the church. Growing up in a Free Will Baptist church we actually had “feet washing” services! All the men would meet in one room and all the ladies in another. There were dishpans of water ready and white bath towels we wrapped around our waists as we shyly scoped out the room to see who we would partner with in this unusual event. Undoubtedly (maybe to break the proverbial ice), someone would break out singing Amazing Grace as two by two we would immerse our stinky feet in a tub of water while someone else patted and dried them off. Now, let me make clear that I’m not saying there is anything necessarily wrong with this practice in the literal sense. But truly washing each others feet has a much deeper meaning in this passage. So, what was Jesus teaching? What did this outward observance signify? We could compare it in a sense to water baptism. Just like being immersed in the waters of baptism pictures our burial with Christ as we go under water, and then our resurrection into New Life as we are raised up out of the water (Romans 6:4); this washing of the disciples' feet that day also had a spiritual meaning.

Jesus was teaching humility at a time when even His own heart was being tested. As He washed Judas' feet He was demonstrating how we are to bend our knee to serve those who have painfully mistreated us. It’s saying I love you regardless of what you’ve done to me. It’s kneeling before our Father and asking Him to fill us with power to love beyond ourselves. This is a love we don’t have on our own. Its not a fake love it is the Father’s love…that love that lives IN us in the person of Jesus Christ by His Spirit. That’s why Jesus said later in verse 34 & 35, “A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” We are called to this kind of love. And in verse 17 Jesus said “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Do we want the blessings of God on our lives? His presence, His power, His peace, His deliverance, His healing, etc. etc. etc.

I know it takes time to get over hurtful things said and done against you. Believe me, I know. But, we are called to walk in the power of the Spirit every day that we live. It’s a high calling and only possible when much time is spent on our knees in prayer. I think we begin by asking God to teach us how to love like this. Last Sunday, the Sunday School lesson was on forgiveness. And one of the definitions of forgiveness that the teacher shared was “to release a person from an obligation.” Think about that. To forgive that person that hurt you so badly is to release them from any obligation you feel they have toward you. Whether its saying, “I'm sorry” or acting like they're sorry or reconciling their relationship with you. All those things may be necessary between them and God, but they are not prerequisites to your (or my) forgiving them. God forgave you and me long before we ever apologized or began living our lives for Him. That’s hard to swallow, I know, but I want to learn how to shine the light of God’s love even when it goes against everything my flesh wants to do. That is the overcoming power of Christ! No matter how long it takes…that's what I want to pursue!

When Judas betrayed Jesus he basically turned Him over to the religious leaders to do whatever they desired. To betray means to give over; to deliver up. That may have happened to you and me sometime in our lives, but know this for sure...Jesus said in John, chapter 10, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.” Hallelujah!

Have a great week...