John 13:1-5
1 Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and was going to God, 4 arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (WEB)
In the orphan world system that we live in, we find our identity in the things we do and what we possess. That is why there is such an emphasis in life to climb the corporate ladder, acquire as many possessions as you can, etc. The more we achieve, the better we feel about ourselves. On the flipside, the more we fail, the worse we feel about ourselves.
This kind of motivation leads to a life that not only has lots of ups and downs, but is a very tiring way to live. The more that your identity is directly related with your performance, the less secure you will be in life. After all, what will happen if you cannot perform any longer? Who are you then? Are you less valuable? Are you less loveable?
What happens if an economic catastrophe wipes out all your possessions? What happens as gravity sets in as you grow old and you no longer have the perfect physique? Who are you then? I believe that even the very thought that some of these things might happen, can cause many people to live a life of fear because they believe that their happiness and their identity is conditional.
We may be loved by the world as long as we can keep up appearances, but what happens when the time comes that we stumble and fall? What happens when we fail to live up to the expectations of other people? From a Christian context, what happens when we fail to live up to the expectations of church life? Are we any less loved by God?
Of course the right answer is that we are loved by God no matter what we do. That His love for us is not based on our self effort, but on what Jesus did on the cross when we were powerless to do anything about it (Romans 5:6). While most believers know this to be true on one level or another, there are still remnants of an orphan belief system in our hearts that look to our works to establish our identity.
In this week’s blog, we see how Jesus takes on the lowliest expression of servanthood towards His beloved disciples by washing their feet. Just prior to this, the Apostle John writes the following words about Jesus in verses 3 and 4… 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and was going to God, 4 arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. (WEB)
Jesus knew that He was the beloved Son of God. He knew that His Father had given all things into His hands. Jesus knew that He came from God and that He was returning to God. It was the revelation of who He was that sustained Him, not what He did. Because He was the Son of God, He could do anything. He could heal the sick, raise the dead, and yes, even wash His disciples’ feet. Nothing that He did could ever compare with who He was. He was the beloved Son of His Papa!
We have been given the same Spirit of Sonship (Galatians 4:6-7) that our elder brother walks in. Paul the Apostle told us that it was no longer he that lived, but Christ that lived in him (Galatians 2:20). He also said that Christ in us is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
The revelation that we are born of God should be enough to satisfy any need to define who we are! Sure, Jesus told us that we would do greater things than He did because He was going to His Father. But even the greatest of all achievements will pale in comparison to simply being called the children of God (1 John 3:1).
My prayer today is that each and every one of us would know that our identity in Christ is not defined by what we do or what we don’t do. Our identity is not defined on how much we work, how much we achieve, or how much we sacrifice.
May the revelation of His great love give us courage to simply be who He created us to be! Whether that is doing great exploits or taking time to rest. May we carry within our being the revelation that we are loved sons and daughters to our Father in heaven. May this identity be enough for us even in the midst of a world (and sometimes a church culture) that demands more from us.
May the compass in our hearts always be calibrated to the love that God has for us. Whether we achieve or we fail, whether we work or we rest, may we all know that God’s love will never ever change towards us.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing. 3 If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, 5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.
Cross Eyed Wolf 