John 13
Now before the Feast of the Passover,
when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper.
He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”
7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
8 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.”
9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet,but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”
11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.
25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”
37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
John has explained to us, how very difficult it was to sort out all the events, miracles, circumstances of God intersecting mankind.
This night of Jesus life is so fraught with History, God's Plan, mankind wondering and flawed to sinful - that if you had to compose one noise to make this night understood it would be - the nail going into Jesus into the cross itself. This was a dire, emergency night meeting the Grace of God Almighty, Father of Jesus Christ. This is the overcoming of Sin. The Grace of God's Goodness overcoming forever.
This is the Symphony of Handel's Messiah and the cacophony of mankind grasping God Himself. The Disciples are going to sit to explain this to themselves, with Jesus' Brothers and Mary for quite some time.
Love far beyond what can be imagined is - God.
Betrayal of a friend - unbelievable. How.
Denial - A great man understands the Word of Life has arrived - he will not comprehend the leaving of Jesus.
The New Covenant has arrived. On this night, The Plan of God unfolds. Blessed are the eyes to see this. More blessed those who will never see, and yet believe. Unblessed to not see the events, more blessed with the miracle of time and circumstance to have the sheer God blessing of time to comprehend the Magnitude.
God interweaving all things to good, for those who love Jesus.
Recently I was blessed to attend a funeral of a man who was humble. The funeral explained this man, who once told me this story when I was 17 and I was just about unable to come up with a coherent reply - the story was so large. He explained how a quiet life from a little town had 7 absolute miracle of God out of the blue and his life completely and utterly Changed each time.
A gift of a great college out of the blue. An unknown giver.
A gift of supreme forgiveness by a stranger.
A gift of a spouse - to always comfort and love.
A gift of a job - being saved from war. Out of the blue.
A gift of direction for another job - that was blessed.
A gift of blessing others - taken up quietly.
A gift of a child healed - prayed for like a blanket from Heaven. Arrived.
And another job given to bless others where Heaven Opened and Blessings Poured Forth.
The reaction to these blessings - this man spent 6 years doing all he could to read God's Word and see the Holy Spirit. He spoke with awe that he had done nothing to earn God's favor and this is the most Precious Blessing of All. He blessed others with his awe. And he blessed his children.
This humble man had a verse of the entire Scripture that blessed his life and led him.
Isaiah 32:8
A noble man, makes noble plans.
By noble plans, this man will stand.
And for the sheer goodness of this man and his family, I began to read Isaiah.
Isaiah was Blessed of God. To see Heaven and all of Heaven's Glory. Father God enthroned. Isaiah has picked up his own cross. Two Kings failed to heed any advice of God Isaiah had to give. And Isaiah continued to believe God would find Isaiah His Own Servant. Isaiah only had the idea that God loved him. This idea - is God's Plan and the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This is the faith that makes one righteous in Jesus Christ and saves - God's size - The World.
To read Isaiah you must have fortitude. Courage. Bravery.
To pay earnest attention to all God has to say.
This is why Father God built the Seraphim with a face to see all corners of all matters the Spirit of God searches.
And when Love searches, fear is put down. When we first encounter God - fear happens. No one we know can do all this. Peter cried out, "I am a sinful man, depart." And later Peter would cry out again, "You have the Words of Life - where would we go?"
Peter cries this out again the night of the New Covenant. Makes you want to grab on to Peter and comfort his soul. Peter understands this loss, unbelievable, in his denial. Poor Peter. Jesus is Wise.
Paul would be blessed to be like us, not there, and come to see and would explain in his great Love of Jesus, Timothy and the people he would proclaim Jesus the Christ, Risen and Victorious - Jesus Loves.
This is how we begin to understand Isaiah!
How we understand The New Covenant and the unfathomable and willing Grace of Jesus and His Incredible Love for us.
How Isaiah Works. This is the work of faith - to believe. This is how the Disciples, the Brothers of Jesus and Mary went from afraid to His Beloved - Christians.
1 Timothy 3:9
They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
1 Timothy 1:5
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
1 Timothy 3:16
Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
Almighty Father, God of Love, Father of all things,
Bless Your Holy Name.
Great is the LORD. Greatly to be Praised. You made the Heavens with Splendor and Majesty.
Strength and beauty are in You. Your Word of Life.
Your Temple is more Beautiful of all places. To the Glory of Your Name, Jesus.
You are Holy, Holy, Holy.
Bless, we pray, the ones we Love. Comfort, Encourage, Guide, Sustain, Forgive, Teach, Uphold and Upbuild. Pour out Your Holy Spirit into the People You have given us. Help the Nations to be within the Goodness of Your Plans. We pray more of Your Heaven done on this Earth. Only for the Glory of Jesus, Amen!
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †