A Taste of Heaven
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Cory Bragg, Groups Pastor
Daily Scripture
John 13:1-17
1It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10Jesus 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.” 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?”he asked them. 13“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Daily Devotional
It is Jesus’ last night, and he is having what we have creatively called “The Last Supper” with the ones closest to him. We would also want to spend our last meal with the ones we loved the most.
As the meal is in progress, Jesus throws a wrinkle into the gathering. He is always good at doing that. The Apostle John proceeds to tell us that Jesus interrupted the meal in order to wash the feet of the disciples.
Washing feet was a customary practice back in those days, especially in well-to-do homes. Because people walked by foot on dirt paths, they would arrive at their destination with dirty feet. So in order to serve these guests, the lowest servant in the household would proceed to wash their feet. Let me repeat that again. Washing feet was the job of the person on the lowest end of the totem pole in the home.
Jesus did something crazy. Jesus did something no one expected. Jesus performed an inappreciable role, and his motivation was to show “them the full extent of his love.” (John 13:1) Love serves. Nothing is too low for someone to do when it is prompted by love.
Jesus serves. And it wasn’t just this one instance. Being a servant defined him. ”For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
The truth is that we are never more like Jesus than when we are serving. Serving isn’t always glorious. Serving isn’t always fun. Serving also means we might find ourselves doing something we don’t want to do. Yet we still do it because the love of Jesus motivates us. It’s a simple way for us to bring a taste of heaven to earth. Even Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11)
Prayer
Father, You exemplified a servant’s heart when you chose to lay down your life to save us from our sins. You call us to serve those around us so we might represent you and your great love for us. Show us who we can love better and how we can serve them. We want to bring a taste of heaven to Earth. Thank You for loving us and choosing us. Amen.
Reflect
- When was a time someone served you? How did it make you feel?
- What is something you can do over the next few days to serve someone who isn’t necessarily easy for you to serve?
Family Discipleship
Illustrate
Supplies Needed: tray, assorted objects to play a memory game (a lego block, piece of string, small ball, marker, key, etc.)
Arrange various objects on the tray. Have your children study the objects. Play a memory game with the tray. Have your kids close their eyes or leave the room while you remove an object. Then have them guess what is missing. Play several rounds of this.
Read
Matthew 26:26-28
26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Discuss
- What are some of your favorite memories? What makes them special to you?
- Why is it important to remember Jesus? What has he done for us?
- When we take communion in church, we are remembering Jesus and what he has done for us. Jesus died to take away our sins and allow us to have a relationship with God. When we eat and drink the elements, we are remembering the sacrifice Jesus made so that we could have a relationship with God.
Pray
Dear Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice. Help us to remember the incredible gift you have given us. Thank you for dying for us so that we can have a relationship with you. Amen.