April 6: John 13:1-11
Key Verse: John 13:10
Jesus answered, ‘Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.’
Devotion:
Depending on where you are in the world today could be known as something like Maundy Thursday, Holy Thursday or Thursday of Mysteries. Whatever you know this day as, it is the day Christians commemorate some of the things Jesus did before being taken away; one of them being the washing of the feet of the disciples by Jesus. We may cringe a little at the thought of having to bow down and wash someone else's feet, but give a thought to Jesus back then...
We tend to walk around with shoes and socks or stockings to protect our feet and hence our feet are kept in a reasonable condition. Back then most people would be wearing some form of open sandal and walking around the dusty streets and paths would mean a whole lot of dirt would collect, and on hot days that may well mix in with sweat! Whilst I’m sure they would have cleaned their feet to some extent after coming into the house, things would still not be like nowadays!
Jesus did not do this because of the state of their feet but rather because of the state of their souls – and not the souls of their shoes! Jesus knew the state of each of the disciples. He knew what they were going through and He knew what they were about to face. That was of more concern to Him right now than the string of events which would be coming His way! That is love!
Peter did not want to have his Lord stoop down to wash his feet, so he objected to start with. But when Jesus hinted it was of more importance than anything to now Peter wanted Jesus to wash everything! But Jesus told him it was the single act of washing a single part which would make the whole clean. Jesus knows that cleaning us is going to be an ongoing task because we will continue to sin, but it is the first act of cleaning which proclaims us as clean forever!
Points to Ponder:
Do you get tied up in worrying about your sins?
Jesus has forgiven you the first time – that is enough!
April 5: John 13:21-30
Key Verse: John 13:21
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, ‘Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.’
Devotion:
We could say that we can imagine what Jesus was going through when He was telling the disciples about what was to happen, but I really do not think we can imagine what He was going through. How long had Jesus know this? How long had He continued to teach and nurture Judas knowing He was going to do this? And what made Jesus continue to include Judas in everything!
When Judas was finally uncovered as the one who was going to betray Jesus, it was not done in a manner in which we would expect things to happen… In the Western World people make films and tell stories about how evil people are found out and killed or put in prison and yet Jesus continued to show love to Judas at all stages!
Jesus continued to show love and mercy to all people He met, no matter what they were doing and no matter how badly things were going. He tried to make sure everyone was given access to true justice and also the Gospel so they would be able to make informed choices guided by the truth and not passions and hate!
We like to think we allow the truth and justice to reign, but so much of the time we give in to the temptations of greed, desire and hatred instead of allowing people full access to the truth and real justice. Christ knew what He was facing was not going to be the truth or real justice, but He also knew this was going to be the only way in which He would be able to pay for the sins of the world and allow people to be forgiven no matter what they had done in the past.
Points to Ponder:
Do you allow truth and justice to come to the front?
Will you give someone a chance today and see if they make the right choice?
April 4: John 12:23-26
Key Verse: John 12:24
Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
Devotion:
How many times in your life have you put off doing something because of the first big step you have to take, you know, the one which is “stopping the world from turning!” I say that with jest because I too have been putting off things because of the first big step. I am glad I have take the first big step and now feel more at ease with everything which faces me now.
These words from Jesus, I think, were an encouragement to the disciples to show them the first step is the hardest to take. They would be facing a life of servitude when He had gone back to heaven, and it would be that first step which would be the hardest to face because of what Jesus went through. But once you put your mind at rest with what you are facing and the knowledge God is with you every step of the way, the rest of it seems to make more sense!
There are many things in life we can relate to in order to find encouragement, and sometimes those things do help us to pluck up the courage. I know now it is the fact Christ is going to be on this journey with me every step which is giving me the strength and courage to carry on. The world and the people we get to mix with may well throw all sorts of spanners in the works – because people are human. Most humans make silly mistakes without thinking of the consequences.
When God asks us to give up our lives to follow Him, it is not the physical act of laying down your life but the spiritual act of giving up on your pride to make something of yourself. God does not need a raft of popular people who think the world of themselves; He needs people who are willing to put aside their own desires and willing to pick up on the needs of others!
Points to Ponder:
What is holding you back?
Will you take this first step today?
April 3: John 12:1-11
Key Verse: John 12:5
‘Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.’
Devotion:
One of the things you will always face as a Christian is the people who will object to you spending money on anything to do with the church! They don’t do it because they care any more about other people than you do but because they care more about money than any people! When Jesus said the love for money is the root of all evil, this is the aspect He was probably thinking about.
Almost a week ahead of the Passover feast, Jesus came back to Bethany where Lazarus lived and they all enjoyed a big dinner together as a thank you to Jesus. The sisters Mary and Martha were busy with all the catering and caring for the guests when Mary stopped what she was doing to show her love for Jesus for what He had done. She had acquired a very expensive bottle of perfume which was going to be used for His burial. Judas, the one who would soon betray Jesus for money, objected and commented they could probably live off the proceeds for a year!
Mary wanted to show her love for what Jesus had done and used that perfume on Jesus feet. Nobody else was objecting because this was a show of love and gratitude for what had been done. Judas objected because of his love for money instead of for people…
This gathering had caused many people to come and seek out both Jesus and Lazarus; Jesus for doing the healing, and Lazarus because he came back from the dead! The chief priests objected to this and they started plans to kill both Jesus and Lazarus. They were showing their love was not toward God and others but toward their perceived power over the people; not what Jesus or God was teaching!
Points to Ponder:
How do you show your love for others?
How do you show your love for God?