Today Our Daily Bread

~Today~
John 13: 1 - 38
1 Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end.
2 It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God...4 So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron..5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. 6 When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later." 8 Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet - ever!" Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing." 9 "Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!" 10 Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." 11 (He knew who was betraying him. That's why he said, "Not every one of you.") 12 After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. 13 You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. 14 So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. 15 I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. 16 I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. 17 If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it - and live a blessed life. 18 "I'm not including all of you in this. I know precisely whom I've selected, so as not to interfere with the fulfillment of this Scripture: The one who ate bread at my table Turned on his heel against me. 19 "I'm telling you all this ahead of time so that when it happens you will believe that I am who I say I am. 20 Make sure you get this right: Receiving someone I send is the same as receiving me, just as receiving me is the same as receiving the One who sent me."
21 After he said these things, Jesus became visibly upset, and then he told them why. "One of you is going to betray me." 22 The disciples looked around at one another, wondering who on earth he was talking about. 23 One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved dearly, was reclining against him, his head on his shoulder. 24 Peter motioned to him to ask who Jesus might be talking about. 25 So, being the closest, he said, "Master, who?" 26 Jesus said, "The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I've dipped it." Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. 27 As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him. "What you must do," said Jesus, "do. Do it and get it over with." 28 No one around the supper table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that since Judas was their treasurer, Jesus was telling him to buy what they needed for the Feast, or that he should give something to the poor. 30 Judas, with the piece of bread, left. It was night.
31 When he had left, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is seen for who he is, and God seen for who he is in him. The moment God is seen in him, 32 God's glory will be on display. In glorifying him, he himself is glorified - glory all around! 33 "Children, I am with you for only a short time longer. You are going to look high and low for me. But just as I told the Jews, I'm telling you: 'Where I go, you are not able to come.' 34 "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. 35 This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples - when they see the love you have for each other."
36 Simon Peter asked, "Master, just where are you going?" Jesus answered, "You can't now follow me where I'm going. You will follow later." 37 "Master," said Peter, "why can't I follow now? I'll lay down my life for you!" 38 "Really? You'll lay down your life for me? The truth is that before the rooster crows, you'll deny me three times."
The Message - This edition issued by contractual arrangement with NavPress, a division of The Navigators, U.S.A. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002-2003 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved
~ Lena’s Comments ~
This same mind which was in Christ Jesus should be in you*** How awesomely symbolic this changing of garments was! He knew who He was; yet he decided to be a servant anyway, rather than fighting flesh and blood, He fought all hell and won all earth with humility. Maybe if we see ourselves in the light of servant-hood, it will keep us from judging and being prideful and bossy, our motivation will stay love through service.
These guys could have wondered who would take the lead when Jesus was gone, who would ascend this ladder of rank within their group. Jesus wanted all of them to humble themselves, even unto death for one another, as He would continue to show them in what He was about to unfold for them.
***Philippians 2:1-11 (where that scripture was from)
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This part about recieving others is so pertinent to how we think all of the time. Who has Jesus sent? Only Pastors, and Evangelists and maybe Sunday school Teachers? No, God has sent each and every Christian who is diligently seeking Him, some as seed planters, messengers, givers, harvesters etc. He said if we receive these He ‘s sent, we receive Him. It reminds me of the ones we were willing to feed, and clothe, as though we are feeding and clothing Him. He’s showing us ways to keep ourselves from being the ones who would someday be used of satan to betray Him or anyone else.
-The disciples had committed to following Jesus.
-He was there to lead them.
-He was leading them to take His place on the earth, not follow Him to heaven- not yet.
-He had His time on earth, then His time to be in heaven.
-We have that same time appointed to us.
-Our time on earth is not to be spent only finding God and then dying. No, it is to find God and live for Him, in ministering to others as Jesus is outlining here when He says love and serve one another. They spent time learning about Him, learning to trust Him, and then demonstrating that trust by following Him.
-His love drew them to these places of decision, of seeking after, of relying on, and of trusting.
-Their love would do the same for others, if they would do and be who he had now left them here to be.
-We are His reflection in the earth.
-The reflection of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
The wayyyy cool thing is/was that instead of their being only one picture of God running around the earth, there would now be 100’s and thousands and, millions, and Billions!
-THAT was/is God’s idea, goal and plan.
-We are the ones fulfilling it by the act of our own free will.