Turn your thoughts for a moment to what we would refer to as the
first Lord’s Supper. In that event, Jesus models an attitude that we must
choose to have each time we come before Him.
On the evening of the Last Supper there was a problem among His
disciples that Jesus had to address.
While Satan waited at the door, while the High Priest plotted
for His life, and while the Roman cross stood not far away, a greater priority
than all others was Christ's—His disciples had to learn what genuine love was
all about. The hearts of His disciples contained: unforsaken selfishness, disagreements, contentions, jealousies,
impatience, and unholy ambition; and none of those are acceptable in the
presence of Jesus.
Luke 22:24, “Now there was also a dispute among them, as to
which of them should be considered the greatest. “
The Passover meal was about to start, but no one was willing to
take the lowest job. In a home without slaves, someone (usually the lowest in
rank) had to take a basin and wash feet before the meal. None of the disciples
felt like serving that night.
During the long meal in reclining couches feet would be near
faces. Dirty feet would distract, so would dirty hearts. So Jesus addressed their hearts as He washed
their feet.
Jesus girded Himself as the slave. Jesus knelt before all of His
men and took the lowest place.
The picture they got of Jesus was burned into their hearts
forever. Peter wrote of it, John wrote of it, and they talked so much about it
that Paul even describes that humble servant attitude and action of Jesus.
What was Christ's answer to their selfishness? His Love.
What was Christ's cure for their selfish ambition? His love.
If we’ll turn to John 13, we enter into that night of nights. It
is Christ's last night on earth. It is Passover time and the Seder meal that
both Christ and His disciples had participated in from their earliest
childhood. This night the disciples came troubled, unfocused, arguing, and out
of step with Jesus. They had everything on their minds but Him.
That is the constant struggle that He had with them.
· They thought of Earth
as He talked of Heaven.
· They thought of the
sin of others as He pointed to them.
· They were self
focused when He asked for them to think of others.
John 13 is Christ's lesson on how to prepare for meeting with
Him. Jesus teaches a life-changing lesson on the choices we must make in order
to have a wonderful time fellowshipping with Him and enjoying the blessings of close
communion.
There are three vital elements that John 13:1-17 presents to us.
These three elements should be on our minds and hearts each time we have the
privilege to meet with Jesus.
What did Jesus model for us, which we should also do?
- Jesus demonstrates how we
get dressed for meeting with Him (with a loving attitude).
- Jesus demonstrates how we
get prepared for meeting with Him (with a cleansed life).
- Jesus demonstrates how we get the most of a meeting with Him (with a serving heart).
There’s nothing nonchalant about meeting with Jesus, and there
is certainly nothing that is nonchalant about His instructions on doing so.
Allow me to encourage you today to make preparations in your heart to meet with
Him. Jesus is always awaiting our communication with Him, but oh how much
sweeter that communication is when it is true communion!
Pray with Me:
Lord Jesus, thank you for the privilege of meeting with you and
coming into your presence. As I do so today, I’m reminded of the preparation
required for this time to be as meaningful and special as you desire it to be.
Forgive me for approaching you nonchalantly in the past, and help me to
take time to have my life continually prepared to be in your presence. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment