Just Do It

I am often amazed by the simple and even subtle things that God does for us that have a profound impact. One of my favorite portions of scripture is when Jesus serves His disciples at the Last Supper. In the first 17 verses of John chapter 13, we see the most amazing yet humble picture of who God is and what He calls us to be like.
We all probably know the story. The night of Jesus’ arrest He shares the Passover dinner with his closest friends and His soon to be betrayer. During this meal, He teaches them everything He needs them to know before He is to die on the cross.

However, Jesus doesn’t just teach them with His words. He shows them an incredible example of what He has called them to be like. He has not called them to be powerful, warrior types that will help Him overthrow a government. He calls them to be servants. This is shown by his stripping down to His skivvies and washing their dirty, nasty, stinky feet. They are all amazed that Jesus would do this. This is the job usually reserved for the lowest of the servants in the household. And here Jesus, the King of the Jews, the Son of God is stooping himself so low. The thought of this causes Peter to go into a tizzy. Once Jesus calms Peter down, the servant of all explains that He has come to serve and if the master is called to serve, how much more are we, His servants, called to serve.
Verse 17 gets to what I think is one of the most powerful things that Jesus says in the whole bible. “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Basically, Jesus is saying here, “I have told you and shown you everything you need to know to follow me. Now go do it and I will take care of everything else.” Our only job is to do what He says and He will take care of the rest. What a relief that is to me! I don’t have to worry about the outcome. I just have to serve others in love and humility as my master has shown me.