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1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 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. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 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. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. 31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him,God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. 33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:1-17, 31b-35 NIV)
Today is Maundy Thursday, ConCafe Family; may it serve to truly teach us a new commandment that Jesus gave to the Disciples and to us on that special, sacred night. May you, dear one, take advantage of all blessings to bless others today and all days in their walk with the Lord.
Bishop Raymond Owen had us gather as clergy for a get-acquainted with him meeting in Mount Wesley in Kerrville, Texas. He said a few words then made us sit in a long line of chairs and he took a towel and wiped our shoes clean with that towel. It was a symbolic gesture but it was a powerful one; that a bishop of the church would gather with his pastors and then do this washing as it were, of our shoes, recalling that which was read just now in the above passage. For someone in a place of authority to assume the role of a servant, nay slave, and wash the feet of those in his service was unheard of; yet Jesus did it on that night. The only one to verbally object was Mister Speak Before I Think, Peter, who asked the question that the others surely were thinking, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet? And after Jesus' response, he still said, "No, you shall never wash my feet." Jesus' next response changed his mind and his answer; "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." Ouch. Peter could only say, "Then, Lord, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
The passage does not mention their celebration of the Passover, but it was different, and to close the meal Jesus gives them a new commandment; "love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Some may think this applies only to when we are in church; others only when it is convenient; others when it does not call us to be uncomfortable; but in truth, what Jesus said, He meant for all times; we must love one another - no exceptions. His love, which we receive from Him, comes to us as agape love; the unconditional love that requires nothing to be met or done; it is the ultimate display of grace; that all are loved and accepted by God, and in turn, we must love ALL people; no questions or conditions need be met; just be alive and present, and we should love one another. Yesterday's prayer focus was on forgiveness; and this after a long talk I had with a dear brother whose life has been marred by a dysfunctional family; later early ministry done in a dysfunctional church with disgruntled pastors; then a switch to a megachurch where he learned quickly the emphasis from the senior pastor was solely on money and how much he could raise to bless the pastor first, then the church; he parted ways with that ministry and finds his view on the church to have been made rather dim; how can I learn to forgive? is his question; and it may be yours as well. We are told to forgive, but never, he says, are we shown how to forgive. Indeed, forgiveness is tough in and of itself, but what does it truly and fully involve? How do we erase "tapes that constantly play in our minds about the hurt done to us?" And to love others, does that involve erasing tapes placed there by well-meaning parents or guardians that served only to limite our view on others, especially those different from us?
Love, like forgiveness, is difficult at times, for all people. We seek to rise above what we were taught to what we now know as a direct revelation from God about love; and forgiveness means to picture ourselves first as the last ones we would expect to be forgiven, to the realization that we are first in line on God's list of those who deserve love and mercy; and in the same way, we pray and seek to learn how to show mercy to those whom we think do not deserve it, and to love even those whom we know hate us. Jesus knows that once we declare ourselves as His, then the attacks from His enemy intensify, and we are bombarded with what seems to be nonstop shelling; and all this while in church or while leaving the church property bound for home, or being seen in a setting where others know we are indeed Christians. Jesus said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
To not show love, or to withhold forgiveness is to allow poison in our system to fester and grow; the more we desire harm or evil to come to those who have hurt us, the more hurt we are allowing to hurt us. To withhold forgiveness is the very same thing. It's like trying to put a collar on the one who has harmed us and realizing that we have only collared ourselves and the more we think we can pull or yank the leash that holds that collar, it only hurts us and leads in the way we know we should not go. To sing the popular Disney song we hear the words that best apply, "Let it go!" Let go the love you have in your heart that has come directly from God; and in the same way, let go any resentment or hurt and let your forgiveness flow. This is all leading to that hillside on this Friday, where an innocent man, the only man without sin in the entire Bible, was led brutally to the top, a jagged crown of thorns on His head, whipped and spat upon, then nailed to a cross; and what did He say on the cross? Did He say, "You will all pay for this someday?" No, He said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." We do know what we are doing, at least what we should be doing, and so, love and forgive. Let me make clear that some instances of forgiveness may mean our not associating with those who we have forgiven, for to do so might lead us down a deeper path away from God and our own wellbeing; much like the abused spouse who wants to believe that s/he needs to stay in an abusive or even fatal relationship; it does not. We can forgive and we can certainly leave, too. God understands.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we have much on our hearts and minds during this Thursday, the day before Good Friday. We seek to be blessed and to please You; guide us to joyful obedience, and let us love all people, and to share forgiveness with all whom we know we should forgive. This we pray with faithful hearts, in the Name of Jesus Our Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show love to those whom we see and should interact with; and do it with God's blessing and protection on you.
Receive my blessings of love and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
