The apostle John wrote how Jesus, “knew who should betray him; therefore said he, You are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know you what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord: and you say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet”, and in chapter thirteen and verse fifteen of his book John shared how Jesus told His disciples, “I have given you an example” where we read:
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
The verse reads, “For I have given you an example, ...” John began with the words, “For I have given you” which means “because, since and on account that I, Jesus, have granted, bestowed, furnished and supplied to you, disciples of Jesus” “an example” or “a sign, delineation, representation, figure and copy for imitation”. John shared how Jesus told His disciples the He presented a “representation” for them to “imitate”.
The verse goes on to say, “... that you should do as I have done to you.” John continued with the words, “that you should do” which means “so you, disciples of Jesus, are to perform, make ready and produce” “as I have done to you” or “even like I, Jesus, have performed, produced and made ready toward you, disciples of Jesus”. John shared how Jesus challenged His disciples to perform the same service toward others that they received from Him.
When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we discover Jesus' “example” of how to be toward others. Jesus came to “serve” mankind, and He served them when He gave His life on the cross to die for the sins of the world. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. Those who “serve” others “deny themselves, take up their cross and follow” Jesus (See Matthew 16:24), and from that relationship they learn to “esteem others greater than themselves” (See Philippians 2:3) and “serve” them. Let all who read these words surrender to Jesus and allow Him to employ them to care for others in this world.
Next time John shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “the servant is not greater than his lord”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment