Days 262 & 263: Matthew 26:1-5, 14-35; Mark 14:1-2, 10-31; Luke 22:1-38; John 13-17

Jesus time on earth is drawing to a close. I've never fully understood why the chief priests and officers of the temple needed someone to betray Jesus to them. I mean it's not like Jesus was in hiding or on the run and they needed help finding him. I think a big part of it was that they wanted to get him in a time and place when no one else was around. They were afraid of the people...

And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. (Luke 22:4-6) (Italics are mine.)

John 13 is the famous passage where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. It's an amazing scene. It boggles the mind, really. First of all, think who Jesus was. This is not just some other guy...this is their Creator. The One who spoke them into existence. And he gets on His knees...and washes their feet.

We humans get pretty caught up in the whole status thing. I think maybe it's because we're basically insecure. We're afraid someone will think we're less important than...well, less important than we want them to think we are if we lower ourselves too much. We'll do some service, because doing service for others elevates our status in other people's eyes. But not too much...and none that is completely unknown because then what would be the point? We're insecure. We are not confident enough in ourselves to willingly be put in a position that may reflect poorly on us. Jesus, however, knew who he was...so he could humble himself without worrying about status...

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13:3-5)

If I know who I am then I don't need to worry about status...

"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15)

That's who I am.

So...if the world looks down on me, or even hates me, I'm in good company...

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." (John 15:18-20)