What Would Jesus Do?

John 13: 1-17

There are so many words, ideas, philosophies, and religions in the world today it is difficult to tell the true from the false.  Jesus warned us that this would happen in the last days and it has.  The enemy of God has succeeded in twisting truth and falsehood together, of producing doubt and distortion about God and His ways.  Religious people have wandered far from their roots and have experienced foundations that have crumbled.  Many people do what is right in their own eyes and then claim “spirituality and even God as their source and then go on to control the minds and hearts of others.  It is done in the name of tolerance and peace but in reality the results are anarchy, confusion, and foundations built on sand that will be swept away with the waves of trials and tribulations.  There’s a hard rain coming and any truth not of God will be destroyed and washed out to sea.

How do we know who to believe and what to do anymore?

One way works for me.  It is the way that has been tried and tested by fire for millions of people over 2000 years and has stood true.  Jesus Christ is the Way, Truth, and Life and he lived his life here on earth as an example to be followed.  So the adage “What Would Jesus Do” works for me and has worked for me all of my life.  As I read John 13:1-17 today I saw a lesson to be learned in this matter.

Jesus was nearing the hour of his death and departure from this earth.  He would be leaving folks that he had spent much time with and loved very much.  In these last hours he wanted to leave them prepared and equipped for the mission and responsibilities they would be given to carry out after his departure.  Not only did he tell them, he showed them so that it would be very clear in their hearts and minds.

Looking at this lesson I can see two directions his actions would have gone in; one might well be chosen by many folks today.  The other is the way that Jesus chose.

          “With full knowledge that the Father had put everything into his

           Hands and that he had come from God, he…”

Choice #1:  He went out and condemned the world showing everyone from the Pharisees to the woman caught in adultery their faults, shaming them for not listening to him, and coercing them into conversion to God’s Way.

I see this choice worked out by many people today with their stinging words and their hateful placards.

Choice #2:  He stripped himself, took a towel, and washed the disciple’s feet, even Judas and Peter’s, who would in the near future betray and deny him.  He became a servant, doing the lowliest of jobs, washing dirty feet.  This is the option Jesus chose, out of pure love for these people.

          I have given you this example so that you may do as I have done.”

So many of us are more concerned to have the approval of man, to be seen as doing things for God and feeling all holy, spiritual, and good about how we are being God’s witnesses on earth and converting souls.  It all looks good to us and to the world, but we should be more concerned with how it looks to God.  Jesus came to earth to show us what pleases God, not others, not even ourselves.  Being a servant is very humbling in our world of titles, degrees, and positions of honor that give the Self a sense of pride and self esteem.  But Jesus continually shows us that is not how it is in God’s kingdom.  In God’s kingdom the one who loves and serves, just as Jesus loved and served, is the place where happiness is found.

How do we know who to believe and what to do anymore?  Find what Jesus did and do it in love and true humility.  That is the simple Truth that dispels all confusion, doubt, and falsehood.