What role did you play?

John 13: 1-11

When reading a great book, often through that wonderful gift of imagination I will place myself as one of the characters in the story.  When I do this the book comes alive and I do not want to put it down until I’m finished.  Ask the one who gave you this great gift to allow your imagination to place you as one of the twelve disciples when Jesus washed their feet.  Let me warn you that many emotions will fill you as you imagine Jesus washing your feet, because you clearly understand He is God in the flesh and He is serving you. 

One of the hardest things is to be honest about your part in the story you must evaluate   the now, not as who you want to be.  So ask the one who placed the gift of imagination into your being to show you whom you most identify with of the twelve men gathered in that upper room.  Is your role like a John who was called by Peter, the one Jesus loved, and if so how are your emotions, what’s going through your mind as Jesus washes your feet?  Maybe you identify more with a Philip or Andrew who had watched water turn to wine, the blind given sight, the dead raised, and now the Holy One, the Messiah is washing your feet, what is going through your mind?  Maybe you’re more like Thomas, and you are willing to die with Jesus, but your life is full of reservation, and now Jesus is washing your feet, what’s going on in your emotions?  My hope is that you are not identifying with the one who broke bread with the Lord, was present at all the signs and wonders, saw Lazarus come forth from the grave, and yet at that supper the devil had already placed into Judas Iscariot’s heart to betray Jesus.  If you identify with Judas, what is happening to your emotions, and if you do, my prayer is that you understand, God loves you, and has made a way of escape; all that is required is confession and asking the Father to change your hearts desires.

Did anyone identify with Simon Peter?   We do know Peter was not the first one Jesus came to, and we do not know if the others kept their thoughts to themselves.  But some of us should identify with Peter, and this is your story also; beginning in verse five, “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. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 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.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 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.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

(John 13:5-11 ESV)  Peter is an open book, he is impulsive, he is brash, but he is also very wise, and when confronted with the choice of receiving all that Jesus has for him, he bowed his knee to Jesus.  We see Peter’s emotions they are not hidden, he is willing to be made willing, and at this moment as Jesus washes his feet, his only desire is to be identified with his Lord.  What role did you play in this story?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice