8/13/2019 Blessed Indeed

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Blessed Indeed

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, havewashed your feet, you also ought to wash one anothers feet. For I have given you an example, that youshould do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master;

nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you dothem.(John 13:13-17)

In this passage in John, Jesus is having a conversation with apostles as He washes their feet. Jesus

approves of their honor towards Him, because they call him Teacher. However, Jesus wanted them to

know they must do for others what He did for them.

As believers, our love for the Father is measured in our ability to love one another. I imagine that one of

the most pressing issues a pastor will encounter is not resolving how the congregation despises him or

her, but teaching the congregation not to despise one another. And a parent's desire would be for their

children to love on another and not to lose sight of being connected. The North American World English

Dictionarydefines the term despise asregarding with loathing and contempt, to look down upon or hold inlow regard.

When we look in Matthew, Jesus tells the parable of the sheep and the goats and says in verse 40: The

King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the lea st of these brothers and sisters of mine,

you did for me." Jesus wanted them to know that we are going to be accountable for how we treat one

another. He also says this in First John, By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And

we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Jesus was their teacher. His office of teacher was to hold discourse with them in order to instruct them.

This means the instruction was not to be taken lightly. This whole passage explains how we will be

judged by the Father. And this judgment will be measured against how we treat the least of these the

lady down the street, our colleagues, our children, our spouses, our students, our pastors, andthe stranger.

I am glad when I read the passage Jesus didnt stop after laying out the instruction. He then told the

disciples, as He is telling us, when we hold up one another, cover one another, and honor one another,

we are blessed indeed! Knowing the right way to treat others is good but we are blessed, fortunate, and

empowered to prosper when we do what is commanded in our deeds.

Prayer:Father, thank you for loving me so much that you sent your Son to die for me. Forgive me for

how I have treated the least of Your children. Help me to lay down my life, my goals, my will for the sake

of others. Let your will be done in my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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