The King Said Do What I Did. Can We Ignore Him?

Before we get to today’s article, I just want to mention that am writing from the perspective of a man that has experienced many of the challenges of which I write…. and those spiritual battles continue daily. The articles are implications of what it means to obey the commandment to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. They require some reflection and are particularly for Christians who, as Peter would say, are diligently seeking to confirm their calling and are making every effort to supplement their faith. Said more succinctly, serious Christians. If you know other believers who desire to walk more faithfully with the Lord, please forward an article to them and tell them to sign up for future articles. Thanks so much!

The King Said Do What I Did. Can We Ignore Him?

Have you ever had a “lightbulb moment” while you were reading the Bible and rushed to share that truth with a person who had no response? It’s kind of like sharing a joke that you have found to be really funny and when you give the punch line the person just kind of stares at you with a dead grin.

Well, I guess in a way, I am trying to get the same response with every article I write. I’m sharing my “lightbulb” moments and I want you to be just as excited as I am. Yes, I know what you’re thinking- sometimes you listen or read some of my stuff and just kind of scratch your head wondering what I was so excited about. So, here we go again.

I continue to read through the book of John and have crossed into chapter 13. One well known commentator on the Bible has taught that you should always look for the drama in the passage. Now that sounds a little dangerous to me because I don’t want to make the mistake of reading things into the text that are not there. However, there are certain parts of scripture where you simply can’t escape the drama and chapter 13 is one of them.

Let’s think about John 13:1 where John says,” Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

I think it’s vitally important for us to attempt to wrap our heads around the fact Jesus was fully God and fully man. The part of that truth that is difficult for me is the fully man part. It is easy for me to vastly underappreciate the full range of things that Jesus experienced just like any other person. If he walked too many miles one day, he probably got a blister. If he was working with His father Joseph as a carpenter and His hammer missed the nail head, He would have gotten a badly bruised finger and a lot of pain. He got hungry, got thirsty, and in addition to physical experiences, ran through the full gamut of thoughts and emotions without sinning even once.

So, when we come to chapter 13 in the book of John, we must try to enter into his mindset. He knows He will soon be leaving these men He has loved, He will be betrayed by one of his inner circle, and He will soon be experiencing both physical and spiritual pain beyond our understanding. Yet, with all of that weighing on His mind, He is still taking the time that remains to instruct these men so they will be prepared for what they are about to witness. When John writes that he loved them to the end, I believe it means that he loved them as much as anyone could possibly love others, and he loved them to the very end of his time with them.

Verses 2-5 says, “During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”

Jesus did many things during his time here on earth, but this is surely one of the most shocking moments. This is the Son of God in the room. He has just stripped down essentially to his underwear, and is doing the task typically reserved for a lowly servant. How can this happen? Is this really part of God’s plan for His Son? Do you feel the urge to suggest a revision of events? Maybe it’s just me thinking like boneheaded Peter and in the following 10 verses, there is an exchange between Jesus and Peter about this seemingly completely unacceptable moment.

Following that, John writes in verses 12-15, “ When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, He said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

There are some churches who believe they are obeying Christ by having regular occasions for foot washing, but they miss the point of Jesus’ example. We know from the text that the first major point is about cleansing, but it’s not about cleansing feet. It is the spiritual cleansing we receive through the gospel and no man can do what the Lord does for us in that way.

The second point Jesus is making is about humility. We all understand that we should be obeying commandments and imperatives laid out for us in the Bible, but I don’t think we think deeply enough about this one. Jesus is saying to you and me, I am God, yet I am willing to stoop down to the lowest level conceivable in order to care for those I love. When I wrote that previous sentence, I had to stop again and think about the words, I am God. He is the God of all creation, all powerful, all knowing, absolutely glorious, and He stripped down to wash the stinking dirt off the feet of these men? This must be unacceptable! But it is not; it is part of the praiseworthiness, or the glory of our Savior.

You probably have already thought about the following passage, but I’m going to say it anyway so it may sink in even deeper into our hearts and minds. Paul gives us more details in Philippians chapter 2 on God’s purposes for us in the humiliation of Christ-  

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

This is what we just witnessed in John chapter 13. Notice in Paul’s passage the word “mind” is used three times- same mind, one mind, and have this mind. How then should we be thinking? Just like Christ was during his time here on earth. He said repeatedly in the gospel of John that it was not about His glory but the glory of the Father. He said repeatedly that it wasn’t His teaching He came to share but the words that the Father had given Him. He counted all of his sheep more significant than himself and put their interests above His, even to the end.

Humility was the character of our Savior and King and it must be a major focus for us if we are the children of God. Remember, children who do not resemble their Father are probably not the children of the Father’s family.

So, what does this look like in everyday living for us?

Answer: I am no expert on this! But I have a few ideas that may be starting points. What if we got into the spiritual discipline of waking up each morning and making it a priority to think of at least one way we can serve someone we love today?

As a husband, I have more ideas for the men than I do for the women, but I thought:

• Let me clean up the kitchen tonight (or maybe every night)?
• I’ll take the vacuuming this week or maybe the laundry duty?
• How about cleaning the toilets? Wait, did I just cross the line?
• Can you cook at least one meal a week?
• If you are a home schooler or your child usually needs some help at home with their schoolwork, take some of that responsibility typically borne by one of the parents.
• Can you think of anyone in your workplace that you can serve, especially those who labor under your supervision?
• What about the children? This certainly doesn’t mean giving them whatever they want. Maybe they just need to see husband and wife serve each other so they will learn to emulate that love.
• Do you have to win every argument?
• How about turning off the TV, not touching the phone, and laying down the iPad so you can give your full attention to your spouse and listen to what they are trying to say to you.

By the way, there are some people who think serving is the gospel. In other words, they are really falling back into a works-based salvation which is not going to save anyone. No, this is the outworking of a person who loves Christ and wants to be obedient to the example that He has given us.

This may sound like a hard thing to do, and you are right. If you are a Christian, you still have remaining sin and the flesh that will not be fully mastered during your time here on earth. Your battle is intricately woven into your sanctification. Selfishness and pride will certainly stand in your way and your calling is to “kill” those sins. Thinking back to the book of John, it is in chapter 13 and 14 where Jesus will begin to talk about the work of the Holy Spirit. Praise God that He has thought of everything. He knew that even though Jesus breaks the power and guilt of sin in our lives, the Father has sent another to give us the strength to obey, the Holy Spirit. Much to pray about!

Thanks for listening, see you next time.

THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT: 

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

“Why Should I Believe Anything About Jesus Christ?” Written By Various Authors And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This Podcast features three famous recordings of booklets written by John Blanchard that will strengthen your own understanding on the death and resurrection of Christ and also serve as a great evangelistic tool for a friend or family member. The first booklet is called, “Ultimate Questions.” The second booklet is called, “Why The Cross?” And the third booklet is called, “Jesus, Dead Or Alive?”

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-why-should-i-believe/id1692832161

YouTube: Each of the John Blanchard booklets has its own recording. See below.

Ultimate Questions.  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQggMxnbCbkLux2C6QB1W0VG

Jesus- Dead Or Alive? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjeqfP9L1olkHULFCNHVDDF

Why The Cross? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgJEuKxJL0dgjCDM85tyqrQ

Christian Behavior, written by John Bunyan. This is a wonderful fairly short book written by the great John Bunyan to help Christians understand that their lives should be full of good works! Bunyan takes us to Titus 3:7-8 and brings practical application to all areas of the Christian life. You will be blessed by this great saint!

Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-christian-behavior-by/id1716196912

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjUQ_MpGbnqwrBVi7TgRKi3

Choose Your Master: God Or Money. The links are immediately below-

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: All Things For Good Written By Thomas Watson And Read By Michael Lee

Description: One of the great Puritans, Watson writes based on the great promise from God that all things work together for good to those that love God. The book will expand your faith in God’s promises and His attributes and give a great comfort to your soul.

Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-for-good-by-thomas-watson-and-read-by-michael-lee/id1703108941)

YouTube (https://youtu.be/cCMPuNsv6dE).

Read it online at www.ModernPuritans.com

Title: Critical Considerations For Christian Parents About Your Child’s Education, By Michael Lee

Description: As we search the Bible for answers to the question: How shall we raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” we can see that the system for educating children was done primary by the parents in the home. However, the world in which we live now is quite different and the vast majority of parents use an educational system that is outside of the home and is that system is called the public schools, or the government schools.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-critical-considerations/id1678162250

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjnvjc7QuytT2V3lVr53oqa

Title: From Religion To Christ, Written By Peter Jeffery And Read By Michael Lee

Description:  Tired of the many systems of religion that you have observed or been part of in the past? Are you ready to say goodbye to religion? The author Peter Jeffery, agrees! Doing “religion” is empty and will not get you to heaven. There is something more-something much greater. Take a careful listen through this podcast and discover what a real relationship with God actually looks like.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-from-religion-to-christ/id1687134464

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQg_lCngBTcjs_dXT1VYvYWA

Title: Rediscovering The Lost Treasure Of Family Worship. Written By Jerry Marcellino And Read By Michael Lee

Description: Family Worship was once the normal practice that most Christian parents led in their homes. Led by either parent, the children would be taught daily from the word of God, pray and sing songs. It was considered to be a vital part of the Christian life.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-rediscovering-the-lost/id1692401602

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgNq7asslVBsKyq0FC3arMs

A Call To Prayer By J. C. Ryle.  Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id1672880807

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Thoughts For Young Men From The Book By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: A wonderful book of Biblical truth and advice for young men. Helpful to parents as well as the young men themselves. Full of wisdom for a life filled with Christ. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) served God in England as a pastor and teacher for more than 40 years. His words are still being used by the Lord today and are applicable to all Christians in all times.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-thoughts-for-young-men/id1673847428

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQixZIaBE95_JRojVSkzq1nl

Title: Stand Firm Written By Peter Jeffery and Read By Michael Lee

Description: So you just became a Christian and now what? Get ready for a life of walking with the Lord and experiencing the joy of knowing you have peace with God. However, you also have an enemy- the devil. Peter Jeffery wants to help by teaching you about the battle with the wicked one and how you can STAND FIRM against his attacks!

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-stand-firm-written-by/id1681861976

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjhDFeGYG5Tt5EWjeuz-e1p

Title: The Duties Of Parents From The Booklet By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: From the famous booklet written by Pastor J.C. Ryle. Pastor Ryle gives us 17 points of Christian parenting on which to focus our attention. His words are timeless and apply to parenting today as much as it did 100 years ago.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-the-duties-of/id1676664853

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQgfoZGiRgzptFs7g07vkwU5

Title: Choose Your Master: God Or Money. Written And Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is one of the most written about topics in the Bible because it is one of the most dangerous to the Christian. Listen in on the good and bad experiences of the author and strongly consider the Bible’s teaching on stewardship.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-choose-your-master-god/id1683382182

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQiHoB3-tBm1qDDbxxpQAvTl

Title: A Call To Prayer By J.C. Ryle. Read By Michael Lee

Description: This is a passionate plea from the famous preacher and teacher, J.C. Ryle. Although these words were penned more than 100 years ago, the need and application for today’s Christian is greater than ever.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-a-call-to-prayer-by/id167288080

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAh2MVKU1VQjaXXgO8P1U-bBFkEMCwdYR

Title: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices From The Book By Thomas Brooks. Read By Michael Lee

Description: (This is one that you can listen to a “precious remedy” each day). Thomas Brooks, born in 1608, was a Puritan preacher who wrote a number of essays during his time with possibly the foremost entitled, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices.” In writing the book’s dedication, he wrote, “Christ, the scripture, your own hearts, and Satan’s devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter.” Brooks believed that all Christians have particular weaknesses in their faith and those weaknesses would be exploited in some way by Satan.

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cherish-ephesians-6-4-presents-precious-remedies-against/id1671364198

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Last modified: March 7, 2024