Today is Good Friday. There is so very much to be said about this day.
As a writer, I love analogies. I love symbolism. I love to look at oxymorons and say out loud, “Ha! That’s an oxymoron!” My sweet Terry is so tolerant of my nerdiness. Anyway, we could easily look at, “Good Friday” and say, “It is an oxymoron. It is not good what they did to our Savior.”
And yet, Jesus knew His death was always part of the plan from His Father.
Last summer, our precious pastor, Steve Lawes shared with us, “Jesus knew who He was, and unless we are settled in who we are and whose we are, we won’t become a servant. Jesus took off the garment of Deity and put on the towel as a servant.” He was explaining this to us based on Jesus washing His Disciples’ feet. As I am reading this passage now and writing today’s devotion, I can’t help but sit here and cry. I am always amazed at what our Savior did for us.
“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God, and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter,” you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you? he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and “Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet; you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” - John 13:1-17 (NIV)
Pastor Steve told us, “We need to be looking for the towel and jumping in to serve. That’s where we find life!”
I just weep, over and over at how many times I have failed to look for the towel. How many opportunities has my Father put in front of me to serve, and I looked away? How many chances did I miss because I was too busy doing something else?
Jesus knew what was about to happen to Him, and yet He humbled Himself before His disciples to serve them by washing their feet. My Savior, My King, My Lord … a servant. Sometimes when Terry asks me for another cup of coffee, I think, “I’m tired too!” But I don’t want to think that way. I want to think, “I would be happy to serve you. It would be my honor to serve you.”
A servant’s heart like Jesus. This is what I so desperately want to have. A heart always looking for the towel.
You and I are so unworthy of His grace and His mercy and His love. And yet, He meets us wherever we are, every single day to tell us He loves us.