JOHN 13:14-15 – 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. .”

Picture being sent back in history and sitting on the floor as Jesus institutes His Supper. He is setting in motion what would become a sacred ordinance for His church to observe in memory of His sacrificial death. As we are there, the Lord has just concluded serving the bread and cup. He slowly gets up, grabs a towel, a basin of water, and one-by-one goes to each disciple and washes their feet. This is a humbling scene. Very. The Creator washes the dirty feet of His sinful creatures. But there is more, and we know the more because of the information we have that the disciples did not. Among the twelve is a betrayer. We know it is Judas. Jesus knows it is Judas. Judas knows it is Judas. No one else does. If we were Jesus, in our selfish, sinful, and vindictive ways, we would probably skip Judas. No way are we serving this hypocrite, phony, and deceiver. Not Jesus. He gets the same treatment as the others.

Now let’s return to our world. In our world, like the disciples, there are going to be relational failures. Sin does that. We are going to find people will fail, disappoint, hurt, and betray us. Yes, even Christians! The question then becomes, “How are we to respond?” We have two options.

First, we may respond out of hurt and our wounded sinful flesh which will be impulsive (never good), defensive, maybe even vindictive. We won’t be reacting with a love that is patient, kind, bears all things, endures all things, and hopes in all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Should this be our response, we are going to do damage to our testimony for Christ. Be aware of the volatility of our emotions when people hurt us. And be doubly aware those emotions also fell in the Garden of Eden meaning our emotions are tainted with sin, and without the Spirit of God and Word of God controlling our emotions, we are going to say something or do something when people have hurt us we are going to regret.

The other option in responding to hurt from others is that of the Lord Jesus who experienced all we do from people–failure, disappointment, hurt and betrayal. And He got that treatment from His disciples. And in return, what did He give them and do for them? He loved them. Remember the feet He washed? It included Judas.

When we are hurt by people, and it will happen, don’t let their failures cause a bitter heart, a critical spirit, and judgmental attitude. In doing so, we sin against the God who is love and points us to these Words . . .“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you”.

PRAYER: “Father, forgive me when I am quick to judge and be bitter when mistreated by others.”
QUOTE: “Always remember how Jesus treats us when tempted to be cruel and critical toward other people.

Because of Him,

Pastor Jim