WORTHY
Jenna Worsham
Today’s Scripture: “Peter said to him, ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.’” John 13:8, ESV
Theme: Peter wants to exclude leaders from humiliation; Jesus instructs leaders not to avoid humble acceptance of menial, unpleasant, or painful tasks.
REVEALING
Peter respected Jesus as a Teacher and Rabbi. As such, Peter did not think that Jesus should take the lowest role in the room at the Passover. “Peter said to Him, ‘You shall never wash my feet’” (John 13:8a, ESV). By forbidding Jesus from washing his feet, Peter reveals his opinion of who should and should not be cast in the lowest role. When Jesus leaves the room, Peter might be next in command. Would it then be appropriate for Peter to wash the feet!?
IF I WORSHIP HIM, I WILL HUMBLY SERVE
Long before the Last Supper, Jesus predicts Peter will have a leading role in building the church: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18, ESV). However, Jesus does not want leaders that are above lowly tasks. Those worthy of respect and honor need to lower themselves intentionally. Thus, Jesus rejects Peter’s denial of His service. “Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no share with me’” (John 13:8b, ESV). If Peter thinks He can re-order roles for church leaders, Jesus doesn’t want Peter involved. This is the backwards way Jesus Christ leads. He humbled Himself to servant jobs, to humiliation, to leering, to beating, to nakedness, to the cross, and to death itself.
NO, NEVER
After Jesus tells Peter he is the rock on which the church will be built, Peter starts contradicting Jesus’ statements. Jesus tries to tell His disciples that He will have to suffer and die. As Jesus is explaining, Peter again tries to contradict Jesus. I think Peter means well. He doesn’t want to see Jesus humiliated, dead, or taken down by the religious leaders. Peter wants to resist the unfair. Peter wants to fight. “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you” (Matthew 16:22b, ESV).
Even though Peter doesn’t understand God’s plan, it is the plan. If Peter won’t abide the unfair, the humiliating, and the lowly, he can’t worship and follow Jesus. Peter wants the truth to be: "No, never God!" We should never accept this kind of treatment, humiliation, pain or suffering. Unfortunately, God’s children, His leaders, and His disciples aren’t promised protection from hard and unpleasant experiences. In fact, being humbled is a part of our role, our journey, how we learn submission to God, and to worship.
Make It Personal: What humiliation seems abhorrent to you? Cleaning toilets, helping the elderly with bodily waste, watching babies instead of listening to Bible teaching, taking out the garbage? Imagine Jesus accepting the taunts from criminals on crosses next to Him. Imagine Jesus knowing He would die and yet obeying God anyway. Imagine Jesus submitting to the humiliating tasks you and I don’t want to do. Or, imagine Him showing you the way to do it by doing it for you. Then, gently He hands you the tools to do that same task for your family, subordinates, employees, someone else's children, or maybe even an enemy.
Pray: Father, help me to accept any lowly task. Help me not to see you as a God that expects to be honored so much as a God Who has already served me in every way. You deserve all honor and praise, yet You show me how to become less. It isn’t terrible to be the lowest person in the room. This backwards economy is how we look different. This servant mentality is why Jesus cared for children, widows, orphans, the sick, the outcast, and me. Help me to stop saying “never” and start humbly serving, suffering, and laying down my life as You did. Amen
Read: Matthew 16:13-28, Mark 9:35
Weekly Memory Verse: “He must increase but I must decrease.” John 3:30, ESV