“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” -John 13:16-17
The fabric of life is woven with the decisions we make. As we progress through life, we either draw nearer to Biblical truth, or closer to the ways of this world. If we progress toward Biblical truths we find ourselves becoming less and less like the world, caring less and less for the things of this world, and ceasing to define ourselves among the standards of the world. This type of growth is not always quick or easy, it can often be filled with struggle and pain; however, as difficult as this progression may or may not be, it’s necessary that you draw nigh to Christ. For without Him there is no heaven in the end, and without him there is no deliverance from sin. Without Him there is no peace within. The closer we live to Christ, the greater the contrast we have to this world.
In the above scripture Jesus Christ, the Son of God, stooped down to wash his disciples feet. The one who was with God, who walked heaven, filled with all wisdom and understanding. His Resume, his pedigree, all that he knew and could do should have made him king above all kings. Ruler of all the earth, but he forsook that and became the servant to all men. It makes no “earthy” sense that Jesus Christ would stoop to wash His disciple’s feet. When you wash someone’s feet it’s a gesture of humility, of servitude. It’s not a place where you are going to find pride or those full of pride. In the physical world, those that are great are those who exalt themselves. In the spiritual world, those that would be great are those who abase themselves. This is the example that Jesus left us, and the lesson he taught with his life. What a contrast to the prominent and persistent teachings of the world today. Jesus said that “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” How many commercials do you see pushing this message? How many billboards? How many social media posts and news columns? The clarion call of the world is happy are ye if ye do what’s best for you. Happy are ye if you indulge yourself; eat, sleep, and rise up to play. There are multitudes of people who are entirely given to this “me” first theology. Of those people, how many are truly happy? Yet, there is a peculiar group of individuals who follow after the teachings of a man called Jesus, who leave an example to serve and they are happy. They are happy even when the circumstances in their life should make them unhappy. They are filled with an enduring joy, love, peace, and contentment. These are not those that wish to be masters of their own lives, but those that have accepted that they are a servant to all, and to Jesus first of all.
What would become of a church that served as Christ served? A home that served as Christ served? What if we filled his example? What if we left off the selfish cry of the world and followed after Jesus Christ? “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”
