Lent, Day 37: THE LORD AND TEACHER

John 13:1-17

Years ago, someone said, “All the claims of Christ can be summed up in two words — “Follow Me.”  In John 10:4 Jesus said of the Shepherd, “When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.” In John 12, Jesus washes the feet of His disciples, and at the end of the powerful moment He said, “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.  If I then, the Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you” (vss. 13-17).

Believers are followers of Jesus.  We look to Him to get our agenda.  We look to Him to determine how we shall live in the world.  He lived among His disciples as a humble servant so, when we are following Him, we will live as servants, too.  To have faith isn’t about us.  It is about the life of God in us, doing in and through us whatever God wants to do.  Metaphorically, we will wash the feet of people, even Judas.  But, it is more than metaphor.  It is a life of love, service, commitment, caring, reaching out, embracing the other, and doing it all in the name and for the sake of our “Teacher and Lord.”

The way of the cross is the way of Jesus, and because of what He has done in our lives, it is our way, too.  At least, it should be.  Remember Jesus’ words, “Where I am there My servant will be also” (John 12:26).  If we are where He is, we will be doing what He is doing.  The ways and means of God become the ways and means of our own lives.  We may not be perfect but we are committed to be who Jesus would have us be, doing what Jesus would have us do.  

Oswald Chambers writes in his devotional book, My Utmost For His Highest, these words about following in the steps of Jesus,

The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us. God calls us to His service and places tremendous responsibilities on us. He expects no complaining on our part and offers no explanation on His part. God wants to use us as He used His own Son. (December 18) 

On this Wednesday of Holy Week may we examine our hearts, not to be hard on ourselves, but to be truthful.  If Jesus really is the Teacher and Lord, then let’s make sure we are doing the right things for the right reasons.  That’s all; doing the right things for the right reasons.