Peter Tries to Save Jesus - John 18:1-11

Jesus and His disciples gather in the garden where they have gone many times. Jesus is aware Judas knows they will be there. As Jesus enters the garden with His disciples, Judas brings the Roman soldiers and police.

Jesus goes to meet them. What awesome courage, love, and obedience he displays as He willingly prepares to go to the cross! He presents himself to the crowd and confirms He is the one they are looking for.

At this difficult time, Jesus isn't concerned about Himself. In His endless love and selflessness He makes sure Peter and all His disciples, His own, are protected. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." (vs 8)

Jesus is in charge. He can touch and destroy everyone there, but this isn’t His plan. Peter compulsively jumps in and cuts off the ear of Malchus, the Chief Priest's servant. Jesus tells Peter to stop interfering. There is nothing he can do to keep Jesus from fulfilling God's plan.

Today's text prompts me to consider my own actions. How many times does the Lord say to me, "Stop, get out of my way. Let me do My work?" I tend to jump ahead, take charge, and sometimes mess things up. I am reminded of the wisdom of letting go and allowing the Lord to carry out His plans.

Because of Jesus' unselfish sacrifice on the cross I receive His endless love. He sets me free and protects me every day. I am grateful for His presence in my life.

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Happy Feet, John 13:1-17

Take a look at your feet. Go ahead, take a good look. What do they look like? Are they long and narrow or short and wide? Do you have flat feet or high arches? Feet are the primary mode of transportation for a lot of us. We have put many miles on our feet.

Many of us are embarrassed of our feet. They are not as soft as when we were young, so we hide them in shoes and slide them in slippers. We don’t want anyone to touch them let alone notice them.

John 13:1-17 is the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. How would you react if the savior wanted to wash your feet? Would you feel embarrassed, ashamed at how rough they are? Would you resist as Peter did, not wanting Jesus to lower himself to such a position?

It’s ok to acknowledge that Jesus is better than that. It is not wrong to say, “You should not be washing my feet, but I should be washing yours.” It is when we see how undeserving we are of God’s touch, and yet acknowledge it’s the only way to be clean, that we will understand what he is doing. Jesus washing feet, pointed to the cross where he washed us clean of our sins.

While on the cross; seeing every rough road we have traveled, every dirty thought and deed, each and every mess we created and then stepped in, Jesus chose to die washing us white as snow. All he asks is that we treat the world as he treated us, so that they may know him too.

Read the entire passage on Biblegateway John 13:1-17