Journaling through John | Living like the King

When we know something heavy is coming that we’ll have to take care of, the last thing we want to do is take care of something or someone else.

Jesus knew he was going to be murdered. And yet he washed the feet of his followers.

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.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 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. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” John 13:12-17

To the world, it makes no sense. But within the kingdom of God (the kingdom following the lead of the King), it makes perfect sense.

Our King is kind, all-knowing, and completely selfless. He cares for his own in a way no one else can.

He rules with justice and truth and yet comes down the level of the smallest and humblest ones of us and loves us.

Our King isn’t one who throws out commands at random from his throne and demand we follow him in a do-as-I-say-but-not-as-I-do way.

He shows us.

We know the standard by which to live because we see it in the way of the King, who is also our Teacher, our Lord.

We can be kind because we see his kindness in our daily lives.

We can spot the lies of the devil because our Lord tells us the Truth.

And we are able to love selflessly because we are loved unconditionally.

It doesn’t do us much good if we just know about what to do but don’t do it. If we do, we’re a foolish man building our house on the sand.

But if we do them, we are naturally blessed – because we have built our house on a rock, a part of the kingdom of God, looking to our King and living for him.

“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (v. 17)

And Jesus knew all these things that that night before Passover. He knew we needed his servant heart loving us to the very end and proving in on the cross.

We see him and we live. We follow up in the footsteps of our Lord.

And it’s the most beautiful life.

This verse is from the book of John (part II), a beautiful narrative of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

If you want a companion to study with, grab our John Bible study journal (this section is from Part I) in our shop and enjoy the precious time of knowing God’s sweet words!

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