Time with Jesus - 21 Oct 2013
We are inclined to wonder if James
and John had not “put up” their mother to ask this question. The reaction of the
other 10 to her request, suggests all 12 had been discussing this. The fact
that He had just told them He was going to Jerusalem to face a terrible death,
suggests His words had gone “right over” their heads. They were arguing with
each other, which of them were the most important? Does this sound vaguely
familiar? It sounds like the arguments we hear, with regular monotony, round
the boardroom of any business or church organisation. Most men and women want
to be the “big shot”. Basically, it’s a thirst for power, one of the three main
strings to Satan’s bow.
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| Master or Servant? |
What is surprising is the way Jesus
dealt with the request. Firstly He tells them, (vs. 23) His Father will decide
who sits where. Then He tells them, if they want to be great in His Kingdom
they must become slaves of all!
In Jesus’ day, slavery was common.
It was ubiquitous. We are told Rome ruled by its army; but Rome “rode on the
back” of slaves.
The life of the idle rich was only possible, because the work
was done by slaves. In fact, in the early days of the Church, the majority of
people were slaves. It follows that the 12 would instantly recognise the difference
between the life and position of power, of a favoured follower of the King and
that of a slave. Nevertheless, Jesus told them, if they wanted to be important
in His Kingdom, they should serve each other as slaves. This was the opposite
of the wildest dreams of aspiring “power seekers”. Even today, people aspire
for importance. They wish to be the King’s chief counsellor. They don’t want to
“clean the toilets” of His majesty and entourage.
A couple of days later, Jesus
demonstrated what he meant. John’s gospel tells us; 1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that His hour
had come to leave this world and return to His Father. He had loved His
disciples during His ministry on earth, and now He loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already
prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew the Father had given Him authority over
everything and that He had come from God and would return to God. 4 So He got up from the
table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the
disciples' feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him. John 13:1-5 NLT
In those days, the duty of the
lowest household slave, was to wash and dry the feet of those who had come to
partake of a meal with the owner of the house or leader of the group. This was
something more than a religious ritual. People did not sit down at tables for
meals. Instead, they reclined on the floor. Thus, for everyone’s comfort, the
feet of each guest was washed and dried by the slave. 
People wore open sandals.
The streets were dusty at best; unsanitary at worst. Dirty feet would be an
embarrassment to all concerned, so the “foot washing” procedure, was more than
the preference of fastidious diners. It was a practical and cultural
requirement. Rules of social etiquette demanded this custom.
Did you ever think that Almighty
God would wash your feet? Jesus did exactly that. By this extraordinary act,
Jesus showed us that none of us are too important. Indeed, if I want to be
“better than you” in His kingdom, I must become your slave. He showed us that
before you and I are ready to lead a group of Christians, we must first be
willing to clean their bedpans and toilets. He demonstrated that we need to see
service to our fellow man as more important than the seats of power in
religious, even Christian circles.
You and I are unlikely to ever find
ourselves sitting importantly next to Him. Not unless we are committed to a
lifetime of service, even slavery for His people. The way up in God’s Kingdom,
is always down.
Shalom
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – 21 Oct 2013
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it
is for non-commercial Christian purposes
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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UNPROFITABLE
SERVANT
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After reading today’s
Scriptures, I felt a bit like a boxer who had taken a vicious knock-out blow
to the stomach. It left me feeling dazed and a little bit nauseous. Why?
Because I began to realise how far the 21st century church, has
drifted away from the clear instructions of the One we call Lord. This raises
the question of whether He really is our Lord. Jesus asked: 46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and still don't
do what I say? Luke 6:46 NIrV It’s
fairly obvious, that the one we obey, is really our master. So, who are we
following? Usually, it’s tradition.
But
it’s not only tradition! Mostly, we follow the example of those around us. We
observe that Pastor XXXX has a mega-church building which he fills three
times every Sunday. He is also a gifted orator with an ability to accumulate
followers, who will sit and listen to him absolutely “spell-bound” Sunday
after Sunday. He also has plans to build a larger auditorium, so that he can
“pack more in” to listen to him! He says that God told him to do it. I always
find that rather odd. Where in the Pretoria / Johannesburg area do we need
more or bigger churches? There are already so many, the “flock” has become
selective in what it wants to hear. After all, if Pastor XXXX makes them feel
uncomfortable, they can go and attend the church of Pastor YYYY. He is not
quite so radical and preaches “nice sermons” we all enjoy.
We
also love our titles. I’ve never come across so many, self-appointed Apostles
and Prophets, as we have in South Africa. It may be worse elsewhere. Be that
as it may. I’m speaking about RSA. Jesus’ directions on fancy titles can be
found in Matt 23:1-13. It is summarised as
follows: 10 Don't make others call you
a leader, because you have only one leader, the Messiah. 11 The person who is greatest among you will be your
servant. Matthew 23:10-11 GW Of
course if you insist on a title, Jesus gave us one. 10 So likewise you, when you shall have done all the
things commanded you, say, We are unprofitable
servants, for we have done what we ought
to do. Luke 17:10 MKJV
The
other feature of the 21st century church, is the focus on money.
Yes, running a church is expensive. My question is, “Where do we need any of
the trappings we love so much? Do we really need a building? Why? To
entertain on Sundays? Bear in mind, the bigger the “church”, the greater the
financial demand. Should we scrap our buildings? Let me answer the way Jesus
did. By asking a question. Do you really need yours? If you are concerned
about your future, if the building is closed, then it seems to me, you are a
hireling. You are in the ministry for what you can get out of it. We all like
a big fat salary at the end of the month. If so, think about quitting and
getting a job!
Jim
& Phyllida
Strickland
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13 You
call Me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am. 14
And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash
each other's feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as
I have done to you. 16 I tell you the
truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more
important than the One who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for
doing them.
John 13:13-17 NLT
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We have such strange ideas that are not in God’s Word.
Some are so ridiculous, they border on absurd.
Jesus may have taught things; How His Church should be run.
But nowhere do we ever see, what He taught, being done.
He taught us about titles. Don’t have them Jesus said.
Bishops, Fathers, Pastors, go to the people’s head.
“Unprofitable servant” is what we ought to say. Luke
17:10
We’ve only done our duty the Master to obey.
“The one who would be greatest; he should become the slave,
Of all of the church members”. That’s the command He gave.
But who is there who does it? We like authority;
And no one’s more important around this church than me!
We work with business structures. It’s like a pyramid.
The boss is always at the top. We do what he has bid.
And yet it was the Lord Himself Who washed the dirty feet,
Of all of the apostles when they reclined to eat.
Of course they didn’t like it. The very lowest slave
Was usually appointed. So was the Master brave?
It seems that He was weary of their great thirst for power.
And so He demonstrated that each and every hour
They should be serving others. But such things squash our pride
And we are too important with His ways to abide.
There is a lust for money that people seldom see.
“If you want God’s blessings, support my ministry!
Put your tithes and offerings where we can use it best.
If you put it somewhere else, you surely won’t be blessed.
In any case, my lifestyle needs lots and lots of cash.
If you do not give it, this ministry will crash!”
“If you are important, then come and
sit with me.
Surely it’s much better if other people see
That you’ve become a general in the army of the Lord.”
Brother, if you’re thinking this, then fall upon your sword!
We love to preach the gospel. Men love to hear us preach.
I mustn’t share my pulpit, or hear what others teach.
O Father please forgive us. Your church is upside down.
We surely need revival. Another pulpit clown,
Who “entertains” Your people is not what You require.
But someone who will preach the truth and set our hearts on fire.
Jim
Strickland
Written
21 Oct 2012
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24 Then they began to argue among themselves about who
would be the greatest among them. 25 Jesus told them, "In this world the kings and great men lord
it over their people, yet they are called 'friends of the people.' 26
But among you it will be different. Those who are
the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be
like a servant. 27 Who is more
important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who
sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who
serves.
Luke 22:24-27 NLT
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25 But
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this
world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over
those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever
wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever
wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to
serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many."
Matthew 20:25-28 NLT
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3
Jesus knew that the Father had given Him authority over everything and that
He had come from God and would return to God. 4 So He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped
a towel around His waist, 5 and
poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples' feet, drying
them with the towel He had around Him.
John 13:3-5 NLT
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