Bible In One Year-Day 309 (Tuesday, November 05, 2013)

Commentary: John13-16. At this point, Jesus began to walk the disciples into the center of His mysteries; the WORD. The washing of the feet by Jesus has been interpreted to mean many things. All that have been preached with this passage are better taken as meeting the need at a point in time. Thank God, Jesus made it open. In this writing, we are looking at it from a different perspective but pointing towards the same goal. Definitely we agree that Jesus is the WORD. In the word is life and Spirit. We need this for satisfaction in life. Water signifies life and the Spirit strengthens. Whenever we are exhausted, we need fresh water. We could go for days without food, but the number of days we go without water is far too small. In chapter13, Jesus started demonstrating the legacy He wants to leave behind because He knew His time was getting nearer. He started with the washing of the feet. Peter did not understand what Jesus was doing and he was curious about it. Jesus said he would understand it later. Peter then said he would never allow Jesus to wash his feet, just because his curiosity was not answered. This was not rebellion as we might think but reverence to the Lord. Unfortunately, it was a misappropriation of reverence. He was made to realize that his refusal would have a multiplying effect of total separation from the body of Chris; i.e. would be cut off.

The first lesson is that the word washes.

MLB John 15:3 “You are already clean through the word that I have spoken to you.”

Just as Jesus said, when we go about, we only need to wash our feet because of the dirts we carry as we walk. This is what He desired we do for one another; to encourage one another in words and in deeds. This is how to let the life of God flow in our midst. Who ever refuses to be washed by the word of God will eventually be cut off from life and that means death and stink. When you are washed, then wash others as well. By this the life of God flows within the brethren.

Secondly, our service to the Lord starts with our love for Him and not for the service. Many want to do the work of God without this truth in them. They prove to love people by doing the work of God. And they get satisfied with the praises of people. Not until we love God deeply, His work is ours and not His. To love God is reflected in living His word; this is what He calls “keep my word”

John 14:21 “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

Your love for the people hangs on your loving God first. The simple meaning is that the relationship you have with God is what decides the type of relationship you have with the people. Otherwise put in this way, a vertical relationship with God is what your horizontal relationship with the people hangs on; this is what the CROSS is all about and this is the teaching of Jesus as we have read. When the vertical relationship with God is straight and stands right, it holds the horizontal relationship with people in a perfect place. Any flaw in any of these relationships will remove the shape of the cross.

Just as Jesus taught the word so the Holy Spirit does. It is the Lord’s doing.

John 14:25-26 “These things have I spoken to you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you.”

For life and Spirit to flow out of the word of God, the love for God must be in the heart and this becomes the force behind the work you do and the strength of the relationship with people. Getting far from the word is to be cut off from life. And without love, you can’t endure and tolerate people because they are naturally sinners. For instance, Jesus asked Peter if he loved him three times before He committed the feeding of His flock into Peter’s hand. Let us wash each others’ feets as Jesus commanded.

Let us seek for the old path where we could find rest. Let us listen to the trumpet’s sound, wherewith we could escape the calamity to come. Our reading for today is John17-21. Keep the fire of burning and alive.

Supo Abayode

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Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries

Delaware, USA