“And he shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, which bringeth forth fruit in it’s season, and does not wither.” -Psalm 1:3
In the Gospel of John, chapter 13, Jesus gets on his hands and knees and washes His disciples feet. This is one of the ultimate acts of humility in the history of the human race, Jesus, God in the flesh, washing the feet of sinful fisherman and tax collectors. It’s craziness and this chapter is the poster child for sermons on humility and service. But one summer as I was studying the verse above and this story in the same day, I made a connection that had slipped passed me before.
When Jesus washes Peter’s feet, Peter has a hard time accepting this gift of service. In response Jesus says to him, “Unless I wash you, you have no part of me.” Jesus is washing his disciples feet not only as a cultural act of humility, but so that they, and we will become a part of Him.
What does this mean, to be ‘part of Jesus’? That is when Psalm 1 popped into my head. To be part of Jesus is to be planted, like a tree, in the living water of His truth. So what Jesus is doing when He washes His disciples feet is He’s covering their feet, their roots, their very foundation, He is physically setting them in water. Because He knows that when they are planted in Him, the true source of life, they will never wither.
So then when we, as disciples of Christ, plant ourselves in His truth, He becomes our life source, the source that is feeding our roots and setting a strong foundation. So that in times of spiritual drought, or when tornados come, our roots have not only grown deep in the truth of Christ, but we are constantly being fed regardless of life’s circumstances.
This is why regardless of my surroundings or circumstances, I will strive to stand in the water.
-jon
In the Gospel of John, chapter 13, Jesus gets on his hands and knees and washes His disciples feet. This is one of the ultimate acts of humility in the history of the human race, Jesus, God in the flesh, washing the feet of sinful fisherman and tax collectors. It’s craziness and this chapter is the poster child for sermons on humility and service. But one summer as I was studying the verse above and this story in the same day, I made a connection that had slipped passed me before.
When Jesus washes Peter’s feet, Peter has a hard time accepting this gift of service. In response Jesus says to him, “Unless I wash you, you have no part of me.” Jesus is washing his disciples feet not only as a cultural act of humility, but so that they, and we will become a part of Him.
What does this mean, to be ‘part of Jesus’? That is when Psalm 1 popped into my head. To be part of Jesus is to be planted, like a tree, in the living water of His truth. So what Jesus is doing when He washes His disciples feet is He’s covering their feet, their roots, their very foundation, He is physically setting them in water. Because He knows that when they are planted in Him, the true source of life, they will never wither.
So then when we, as disciples of Christ, plant ourselves in His truth, He becomes our life source, the source that is feeding our roots and setting a strong foundation. So that in times of spiritual drought, or when tornados come, our roots have not only grown deep in the truth of Christ, but we are constantly being fed regardless of life’s circumstances.
This is why regardless of my surroundings or circumstances, I will strive to stand in the water.
-jon
