When Death Was Knocking

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come 

for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own 

who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

John 13:1

Imagine you only had a few hours left to live. Where would you go? What would you do? What would you say, and who would you say it to? Stop and seriously think about each question.

As Jesus' time on Earth grew short, he was well aware of the brutality that was just hours away. Not only suffering and death on a cross, but separation from God.

The anticipation had to be unbearable.

Even though Jesus told his followers he was leaving, they seemed oblivious to his coming death. Still, Jesus spent his last moments with them. His disciples. His friends. They shared a meal together, Jesus instituted communion, he continued to teach them, he prepared them for his departure, he prayed for himself, he prayed for his disciples, he prayed for us (check out John 17:20). He did something else as well. Can you name it?

"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." John 13:3-5

Jesus served like no other. In 3 years of public ministry, in countless miracles and healings, in every teaching, in every encounter, he was serving. What other faith teaches of a God who not only served his enemies, but laid down his life? Of a God who says, 'Come with your baggage. Come with your guilt and stains and I will wash them white as snow. I love you so much I died for you.' 

As death was knocking at his door, Jesus was on his knees, washing the dirty feet of his disciples. 

In love. In humility. 

It was a pivotal teaching moment in the lives of the men God chose to use for the launch of the Christian Church, and it's a pivotal teaching moment for us as Christ followers today:

 “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know 

that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34b-35

Who does God want you to humbly love and serve this week?