God is the all-encompassing Source for everything we need. He is the Source of all empowerment. He is Love (2 John 4:8, 16), and as Love, He empowers His kids.
All Power, All Love
Let’s look at John 13:3 – 5, 8-16 (TPT), which says:
3 Now Jesus was fully aware that the Father had placed all things under his control, for he had come from God and was about to go back to be with him. 4 So he got up from the meal and took off his outer robe, and took a towel and wrapped it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ dirty feet and dry them with his towel.
I want to draw your attention to Jesus, Who as a son of God, was fully aware of His cosmic authority. What did He do with that? Did He topple the ungodly authorities in power? Did He fling out mountains of gold to address poverty issues? No, He began to wash the disciples’ feet!
Sharing in the Life of God
He used His cosmic phenomenal power to serve the ones who had less. This was the most menial job – one delegated to the lowest slaves. So much so, that John 13:8 says:
8 Peter looked at Jesus and said, “You’ll never wash my dirty feet—never!”
“But Peter, if you don’t allow me to wash your feet,” Jesus responded, “then you will not be able to share life with me.”
We are to let God, Himself, wash our feet! We are to let Christ empower us and share in His life. Remember Jesus, the express image of the Father (Hebrews 1:3) did not come to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, Luke 12:37). From that place we can love by serving those less empowered. This object lesson was so crucial that He circled back to check on His disciples’ understanding (John 13:12-16):
12 After washing their feet, he put his robe on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I just did?” Jesus said. 13 “You’ve called me your teacher and lord, and you’re right, for that’s who I am. 14–15 So if I’m your teacher and lord and have just washed your dirty feet, then you should follow the example that I’ve set for you and wash one another’s dirty feet. Now do for each other what I have just done for you. 16 I speak to you timeless truth: a servant is not superior to his master, and an apostle is never greater than the one who sent him.
A Happy Life
What is the result of a life of letting Christ empower us and then loving one another in service? John 13:17 tells us:
17 So now put into practice what I have done for you, and you will experience a life of happiness enriched with untold blessings!”
A life spent being loved and pouring out love in service is a happy blessed life!
Servants or Friends?
Given that Jesus modeled serving, it is important that we do not take that and make it mean that we are considered lowly servants. John 13:14-17 (TPT) says:
14 “You show that you are my intimate friends when you obey all that I command you. 15 I have never called you ‘servants,’ because a master doesn’t confide in his servants, and servants don’t always understand what the master is doing. But I call you my most intimate friends, for I reveal to you everything that I’ve heard from my Father.
Brian Simmons, who translated The Passion Translation of the Bible, comments, “Both the Aramaic and Greek word for ‘intimate friends’ is actually ‘those cared for from the womb.’ You are more than a friend to him, for you were born again from his wounded side.”
He is the firstborn of many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29). He is the Bridegroom to His Bride (Matthew 9:15, Luke 5:34-35). We are Father’s/Jesus’s/Holy Spirit’s children, sons/daughters, friends, brothers/sisters, and the bride. This is the type of love and relationship that empowers instead of demeans.
True Followers of Christ
Jesus continued in John 13:34-35:
34 “So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. 35 For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.”
Understand we do not EARN intimacy with God by following Him. We demonstrate we ALREADY are true followers by loving. We can love because we have been well loved first (1 John 4:19). From that place we are motivated and empowered to serve, because that is what love does! Simply, love empowers.
I trust that this has been a blessing to you! I’d love to hear how this gorgeous revelation is impacting you!
XO,
Catherine
