Every once in a while the devotional thought I read in my morning email is particularly excellent, and this is one of those whiles. When it’s all said and done, I want this to be what people say about me, though it’s kind of hard to do sometimes.
What Jesus would do
by John Fischer“Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him.” (John 13:3-5 NLT)
He could do anything; so he served. What a radical thing.
This is a highly unusual cause and effect and one that sets Jesus apart from the rest of us. Here you have described what secular sources today would call the ultimate in self-realization. Jesus knew who he was, where he came from, and where he was going. Oh, and on top of that, he had authority over everything. “So …” and what follows is the last thing we would expect. Put this level of confidence and authority in the mind of any average human being and I don’t think the natural consequence would be to see this person purposely taking on a servant’s role.
So what does this say to the rest of us? It says we need to do the radical thing. We need to use our personal gains to serve others.
Self-realization is in high demand today. People spend a good deal of money, time, and effort trying to achieve it. Counseling, exercise, meditation, and yoga are just some of the things that have been employed in the pursuit of this goal, but arriving at it is, at best, elusive. If you found something this hard to get, wouldn’t you want to keep it?
Jesus showed us something different. He used his self-realization for someone other than himself. This was the essence of Christ’s example. Finding yourself gives you the privilege of giving yourself up for something greater.
Later on, Jesus said he did this as an example to his disciples so they would learn to serve each other. If Jesus, being our master, used his self-realization to serve his disciples, then what does that say about us? Are we greater than he? It doesn’t stop with us. This is the way God’s economy works. Whatever we receive becomes a benefit for someone else.
When it comes down to it, in Christ, we have all the things that Jesus had. Our “self-realization” is really liberation from self in becoming like Christ. In Christ we have authority in the Holy Spirit, and we know where we came from and where we are going, so I guess that about settles it. Time to strap on your towel and get busy serving. That’s what Jesus would do.
-j
I'm Jason, and I like to write.