Day 184: Responding to Christ’s Authority
Read: John 13:5 - 20, 34 - 35; Matthew 22:28 - 32;
Today, we will continue to meditate on the question: How do you respond to authority whether it be parents, or teachers, or your boss, or your spouse? But
above all, how do you respond to the authority of Christ upon your life?
It is an especially important question that we must take a fair measure
of time to give consideration to. Today, is Maundy Thursday. Maundy
comes from the Latin word mandatum or commandment, from the words of
Christ spoken in the Upper Room where they have gathered for the
final Passover they will ever celebrate together as Rabbi and disciples.
It is now the time for these loyal, loving Disciples to give their shared response to their Rabbi/Messiah as
He kneels down to wash feet.
34 A new commandment I give to
you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also
love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My
disciples, if you have love for one another.” A new commandment? That
you love one another? Even as I have loved you? That you also love one
another? A single new commandment - really? I see three commandments
identified here but what makes them new? What is so new about the
command to 'love one another as I have loved you? I can see the
Disciples looking at each other and wondering this same question. Why is Jesus phrasing it in such a 'duh' obvious way? Hasn't this been their response all along? Has this been our response?
What is it that might be on Jesus' mind? Perhaps Peter's response: 'not
my feet Lord' or did Jesus read the hearts of the other disciples
present - one of whom 'lifted his heel up against Him - meaning
betrayal? Maybe it was the other disciples who were still trying to
figure out why their place in God's coming kingdom should not be better
than the next ones (Luke 22:24 - 27) or why their Rabbi, acknowledged
Messiah, Son of David, Son of God would take on the role of the very
lowest of slaves, divest of His robes grab a pitcher of water and a
bowl, get on His knees and dare to wash their feet? Maybe now one can
perhaps begin to get a clearer picture of Jesus' need to command us anew!
Do we
receive Christ’s authority over our lives? (28-32) - Do we accept him as
Lord some of the time or all of the time? (13-17) When our own personal
ministry or the ministry(ies) of our own church keep us inside our Upper Rooms saying 'not my feet, Lord' because I have already 'lifted up my heel against you'? And it just is not about obedience - Christ is not as concerned with profession as obedience. It does not or at least it should not matter if we call ourselves Christians--He wants to
see us show it by our lifestyle - Talk the talk, walk the walk, 'wash
some feet', love one another as Christ first loved us, along the way. In contemporary terms it is about our -
Loving God, Loving all, Joining in the Journey!
Let Us
Pray: O God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have prepared for
those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour
into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things
and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that
we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
http://www.youtube.com/
Read: John 13:5 - 20, 34 - 35; Matthew 22:28 - 32;
Today, we will continue to meditate on the question: How do you respond to authority whether it be parents, or teachers, or your boss, or your spouse? But above all, how do you respond to the authority of Christ upon your life? It is an especially important question that we must take a fair measure of time to give consideration to. Today, is Maundy Thursday. Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum or commandment, from the words of Christ spoken in the Upper Room where they have gathered for the
final Passover they will ever celebrate together as Rabbi and disciples. It is now the time for these loyal, loving Disciples to give their shared response to their Rabbi/Messiah as He kneels down to wash feet.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” A new commandment? That you love one another? Even as I have loved you? That you also love one another? A single new commandment - really? I see three commandments identified here but what makes them new? What is so new about the command to 'love one another as I have loved you? I can see the Disciples looking at each other and wondering this same question. Why is Jesus phrasing it in such a 'duh' obvious way? Hasn't this been their response all along? Has this been our response?
What is it that might be on Jesus' mind? Perhaps Peter's response: 'not my feet Lord' or did Jesus read the hearts of the other disciples present - one of whom 'lifted his heel up against Him - meaning betrayal? Maybe it was the other disciples who were still trying to figure out why their place in God's coming kingdom should not be better than the next ones (Luke 22:24 - 27) or why their Rabbi, acknowledged Messiah, Son of David, Son of God would take on the role of the very lowest of slaves, divest of His robes grab a pitcher of water and a bowl, get on His knees and dare to wash their feet? Maybe now one can perhaps begin to get a clearer picture of Jesus' need to command us anew!
Do we receive Christ’s authority over our lives? (28-32) - Do we accept him as Lord some of the time or all of the time? (13-17) When our own personal ministry or the ministry(ies) of our own church keep us inside our Upper Rooms saying 'not my feet, Lord' because I have already 'lifted up my heel against you'? And it just is not about obedience - Christ is not as concerned with profession as obedience. It does not or at least it should not matter if we call ourselves Christians--He wants to see us show it by our lifestyle - Talk the talk, walk the walk, 'wash some feet', love one another as Christ first loved us, along the way. In contemporary terms it is about our - Loving God, Loving all, Joining in the Journey!
Let Us Pray: O God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
http://www.youtube.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment