13:1 Jesus is reflecting on this moment: His love and passion for God and humanity is reiterated in His reflection. His earthly death imminent, His final thoughts are of us and how much He loves us. Jesus undertook a selfless mission in order to awaken and inspire God's lost children and at the moment of near completion, He is as purposeful and compassionate as He was when He first volunteered. His love extended even past that generation, into our generation and beyond even it. To the end of earth He reflected on His love for each human soul who would live and come through this earth. You specifically were in His heart and mind, even then. You were His reason for being here, so that He could reach you and comfort you.
13:2 Jesus' death was made imminent; He released Himself to His adversaries... His death would be His final lesson to humanity, a catalyst to teach and exemplify spiritual life, eternal life with God after earth. Jesus is about to teach us the message that no matter how robust our enemies are, we are alive in and with God. We cannot be muted by evil.
13:3 Even knowing that He would soon be captured, mocked, tortured and killed, Jesus rises with humility to continue His purpose as a compassionate worker of God. In the forefront of His every thought and move, Jesus remembers that His purpose is from God and He's dutiful in fulfilling it.
13:4 The meal Jesus shared with the disciples was the first true rest and celebration they had with Him. Together, they constantly walked and worked teaching and healing throughout many cities. While there is abundant work to do for God, there is also time to sit and reflect on our relationship with Him, and our shared love and purpose. However even at the table, Jesus was initiating plans, setting into motion the completion of His purpose. Immediately after, Jesus is motivated with another message. At all times He is aware that His life is the instrument which guides and teaches, so Jesus gets up from the table to guide and teach.
13:5 Jesus begins a metaphor of the process of cleansing and humility. He begins to wash the feet of His disciples. This is symbolic because the philosophy of life that Jesus spreads throughout the world is indeed a cleansing in itself: ridding our paths of the muck life often throws at it. The muck being: frustration, sadness, confusion, purposelessness...
13:6 Simon Peter does not understand this spiritual metaphor. Jesus is cleaning the feet of His disciples; He is metaphorically explaining that He guides their footsteps along God's wise path. When our spiritual selves are focused and filtered from the fray, our purposes on earth become clearly defined and because we are with God, we fulfill them without hindrance.
13:7 Jesus explains to Simon Peter that He will understand this spiritual metaphor in time. Simon Peter is going to soon experience a test of faith. This test of faith will be a lesson for him, prodded by his own bravado, to strengthen his faith and his trust in God.
To inspire God's philosophy in the world, God's children are required to be courageous. As Jesus explained to us, it is not the healthy who need a doctor... therefore, God's children are needed in places where the circumstances are, keeping with the metaphor, "unhealthy." God's children often ruffle feathers -- promoters of justice, they must contradict and confront the unjust.
Simon Peter believes that his faith is strong and unbreakable -- and he's half-right, it is strong... but at this point in scripture, it is not yet unbreakable. Simon Peter will falter in fear at the first confrontation which requires him to identify with Jesus. God's children must work to never falter in fear because we are the defenders against fear.
Rest assured realizing that even though Jesus knew Simon Peter would falter, He loves him so much and works with him to strengthen his faith (for Simon Peter's own benefit as much as the world's).
13:4 The meal Jesus shared with the disciples was the first true rest and celebration they had with Him. Together, they constantly walked and worked teaching and healing throughout many cities. While there is abundant work to do for God, there is also time to sit and reflect on our relationship with Him, and our shared love and purpose. However even at the table, Jesus was initiating plans, setting into motion the completion of His purpose. Immediately after, Jesus is motivated with another message. At all times He is aware that His life is the instrument which guides and teaches, so Jesus gets up from the table to guide and teach.
13:5 Jesus begins a metaphor of the process of cleansing and humility. He begins to wash the feet of His disciples. This is symbolic because the philosophy of life that Jesus spreads throughout the world is indeed a cleansing in itself: ridding our paths of the muck life often throws at it. The muck being: frustration, sadness, confusion, purposelessness...
13:6 Simon Peter does not understand this spiritual metaphor. Jesus is cleaning the feet of His disciples; He is metaphorically explaining that He guides their footsteps along God's wise path. When our spiritual selves are focused and filtered from the fray, our purposes on earth become clearly defined and because we are with God, we fulfill them without hindrance.
13:7 Jesus explains to Simon Peter that He will understand this spiritual metaphor in time. Simon Peter is going to soon experience a test of faith. This test of faith will be a lesson for him, prodded by his own bravado, to strengthen his faith and his trust in God.
To inspire God's philosophy in the world, God's children are required to be courageous. As Jesus explained to us, it is not the healthy who need a doctor... therefore, God's children are needed in places where the circumstances are, keeping with the metaphor, "unhealthy." God's children often ruffle feathers -- promoters of justice, they must contradict and confront the unjust.
Simon Peter believes that his faith is strong and unbreakable -- and he's half-right, it is strong... but at this point in scripture, it is not yet unbreakable. Simon Peter will falter in fear at the first confrontation which requires him to identify with Jesus. God's children must work to never falter in fear because we are the defenders against fear.
Rest assured realizing that even though Jesus knew Simon Peter would falter, He loves him so much and works with him to strengthen his faith (for Simon Peter's own benefit as much as the world's).
13:8 Simon Peter reveres Jesus, the thought of Jesus performing such a humble act on him is crazy to him. However, this what Jesus humbly does do for us: He cleans us. He cleanses us from such impurities as confusion, desolation, selfishness, sadness... He's life's work is our well-being.
Jesus explains that without receiving the spiritual cleansing that is the philosophy of God (to live, behave and interact humbly and compassionately) one cannot possibly be of God.
13:9 In that case, Simon Peter is saying, clean all of me! Simon Peter loves Jesus and trusts Him, but has not yet identified the metaphor.
13:10 When God's hand is in our lives, it is thorough and precise. Think of God's children as leaky, creaky old houses. When God restores the house, it is made brand new. He doesn't just fix the leaks and leave the creaks... He rebuilds it from the foundation in the ground up to the roof.
It is a process and our effort must contribute as much as God. We must not only be willing but also active in the restoration of our spiritual selves.
Simon Peter is mid-process in his own restoration, Jesus' teaching and compassion for Peter has inspired his faith and love of God but he has not yet solidified his faith and love with courage and action. If Simon Peter is to be a worker of God, as he desires to be, he will need to be bold and determined even against his enemies. It's easy to believe something when you're safe and warm in your comfort zone... but once you are beyond those boundaries, you have to uphold and defend your beliefs with actions. In order to make a difference you think the world needs, you must be brave enough to enforce it.
Simon Peter is not yet entirely "clean" because he's halfway in his spiritual journey -- faithful, but not yet productive and bold in his faith (a necessary component).
13:11 Simon Peter, as we spoke of above, will deny his relationship to Jesus when in the company of enemies and feeling vulnerable. Jesus knows that this is necessary to embolden Simon Peter in his faith and courage. Our lives are filled with lessons and our "mistakes" only become actual mistakes when we refuse to learn from them. Simon Peter will learn from his lesson.
13:12-13 Jesus begins the heartfelt lesson behind the washing with the disciples. They are comforted and humbled and healed by Jesus and Jesus wants them to know why He gives them His humble efforts, His comfort and healing.
13:14-15 Come to earth the prophet of God, Jesus explains that even He, who could have come to earth with authority and pretension, instead came to work. He humbly works because He is empathetic toward humanity. He wants to be the living example who encourages and inspires us to humble work with empathy for humanity as well. Our purpose, our work*, is to defend, promote, ensure, inspire, create, and return happiness, health, safety, and warm to our fellow humans.
13:16-17 Jesus shows deference to God, who created and loves Him and us. By examples and instruction He teaches us not to be arrogant or too proud to work. *Work is qualifies us for blessings from God, but work is also what gives us self-worth and purpose.
13:18 It is with interesting language that Jesus speaks of His betrayer. Like Simon Peter, each of the disciples (and each human) has their own set of lessons and instructions to learn from. Judas' lesson will be painful but it will maintain an integral part of God's plan and Judas will learn from it.
Judas takes a lot of heat for his actions but remember that Jesus could not truly be killed -- and also, in the process of enabling Jesus' death, through Judas, we learn the true price and repercussion of greed: we inevitable lose those we love.
With overwhelming angst, Judas will immediately regret his negotiations against Jesus. Sometimes our choices bring tragedy but we can choose to rise from the embers, dutifully regretful and wiser, and therefore just as loved by God. Judas included.
Judas was chosen to fulfill scripture -- and maybe he doesn't appear have the starring role, his betrayal eventually led to honest, wise, faith. Judas was chosen to be the lead role in Jesus' betrayal because of his deep down, compassionate soul. Judas was conflicted: enthralled with the idea of wealth yet in love with the message of God Jesus brought. He had not yet been able to overcome his greed but when faced with a lesson from God, he was able to ultimately and fully choose God over money.
Likewise, many of us, at our core, are good, compassionate people. Yet, our souls become layered with our short-comings and the temptations of our desires (ex: modern day consumerism). We become tainted -- all of us, without exception, by many different things. By learning from the lessons in our lives, we begin to peel those layers off and become our true, compassionate selves.
13:19-20 Jesus is speaking of the time after His "death" on earth: It will be made quite clear to the bystanders and people of the earth at the time that Jesus was indeed a prophet sent directly from God. In that time, Jesus instructed them, know that any teacher of this word, this philosophy of God, is received and loved by Jesus... and in turn, loved by God (because it is His message Jesus came and brought to the world).
Jesus' message inspired (still does), sends many other teachers out into the world... the family gets bigger and bigger each day. God sent Jesus, Jesus sent the disciples... the disciples sent their faithful students... (sent out to continue to spread the compassionate word) the message travels through humanity's time here.
13:21-22 Jesus is fully informed of God's plan; He knows who will betray Him. The disciples are alarmed even at the thought.
13:23-25 We get a sense of how comfortable the disciples were with Jesus. Like the relationship between parent and child, they sought solace and love from Him. They ask who will betray Him.
13:26 Jesus symbolically handed Judas a place in the fulfillment of scripture. Here is your task, here is your lesson...
We are reminded of Jesus' selfless willingness to give His whole self to this purpose. He allows Judas and His adversaries to capture Him for a purpose. Nobody can overcome Jesus on their own accord.
13:27 Even when the scripture concerns His death on earth, Jesus instructs Judas to act with haste. Jesus is brave and eager to fulfill God's message. Why? Because it would guide the earth for generations upon generations after.
13:28-30 Jesus has informed His disciples of the coming events but they do not yet understand. Judas sets in motion the crucifixion of Jesus. We, each of us, seem to only catch on to the direct messages and lessons from God when we are quite able to properly interpret them and implement them into our lives.
Judas takes a lot of heat for his actions but remember that Jesus could not truly be killed -- and also, in the process of enabling Jesus' death, through Judas, we learn the true price and repercussion of greed: we inevitable lose those we love.
With overwhelming angst, Judas will immediately regret his negotiations against Jesus. Sometimes our choices bring tragedy but we can choose to rise from the embers, dutifully regretful and wiser, and therefore just as loved by God. Judas included.
Judas was chosen to fulfill scripture -- and maybe he doesn't appear have the starring role, his betrayal eventually led to honest, wise, faith. Judas was chosen to be the lead role in Jesus' betrayal because of his deep down, compassionate soul. Judas was conflicted: enthralled with the idea of wealth yet in love with the message of God Jesus brought. He had not yet been able to overcome his greed but when faced with a lesson from God, he was able to ultimately and fully choose God over money.
Likewise, many of us, at our core, are good, compassionate people. Yet, our souls become layered with our short-comings and the temptations of our desires (ex: modern day consumerism). We become tainted -- all of us, without exception, by many different things. By learning from the lessons in our lives, we begin to peel those layers off and become our true, compassionate selves.
13:19-20 Jesus is speaking of the time after His "death" on earth: It will be made quite clear to the bystanders and people of the earth at the time that Jesus was indeed a prophet sent directly from God. In that time, Jesus instructed them, know that any teacher of this word, this philosophy of God, is received and loved by Jesus... and in turn, loved by God (because it is His message Jesus came and brought to the world).
Jesus' message inspired (still does), sends many other teachers out into the world... the family gets bigger and bigger each day. God sent Jesus, Jesus sent the disciples... the disciples sent their faithful students... (sent out to continue to spread the compassionate word) the message travels through humanity's time here.
13:21-22 Jesus is fully informed of God's plan; He knows who will betray Him. The disciples are alarmed even at the thought.
13:23-25 We get a sense of how comfortable the disciples were with Jesus. Like the relationship between parent and child, they sought solace and love from Him. They ask who will betray Him.
13:26 Jesus symbolically handed Judas a place in the fulfillment of scripture. Here is your task, here is your lesson...
We are reminded of Jesus' selfless willingness to give His whole self to this purpose. He allows Judas and His adversaries to capture Him for a purpose. Nobody can overcome Jesus on their own accord.
13:27 Even when the scripture concerns His death on earth, Jesus instructs Judas to act with haste. Jesus is brave and eager to fulfill God's message. Why? Because it would guide the earth for generations upon generations after.
13:28-30 Jesus has informed His disciples of the coming events but they do not yet understand. Judas sets in motion the crucifixion of Jesus. We, each of us, seem to only catch on to the direct messages and lessons from God when we are quite able to properly interpret them and implement them into our lives.
13:31-32 Jesus was glorified because, at this point, He had done everything He was sent to do. He followed through with humility, compassion, grace and faith. God was glorified because the philosophy He sent to the world was well-received, tested and proven to be honestly compassionate and wise. It had healed, guided, and lighted the souls of the people of the world it reached (and would continue to do so, does continue to do so). For His efforts, Jesus would immediately return with God in grace and glory.
13:33 Jesus was about to return to the spirit with God, a place we only enter after our life on earth. Jesus taught the disciples (and us throughout these gospel chapters) that allow we were not yet in that place, we would always have the comfort and protection from God while here on earth.
13:34 This verse only need be repeated: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. Jesus devoted his entire life to humanity and ensuring their safety, health and strength of spirit.
13:35 We must represent God well: our kindness, justice, honesty and compassion must be the qualities through which people can also find Him for themselves.
Sadly, God is not represented very well these days by many people and organizations. In fact, people have used God and scripture violently, selfishly and intolerantly -- this has turned people away from God's philosophy. It has not been represented well. As God's children, we have a lot of work to do.
It's so important that we correct these misconceptions -- look at the light, guidance, wisdom and comfort God brings to our lives, everyone should feel safe and able to speak to Him, who He truly is.
Jesus loved without judgement, without selfish-motive, without enforcement. He loved all no matter their short-comings or their mistakes. Someone humans have manipulated scripture to judge, condemn and exclude each other. Jesus taught us that every faith is to be respected, that all who upheld compassion (no matter how they did so) were a part of His family.
13:33 Jesus was about to return to the spirit with God, a place we only enter after our life on earth. Jesus taught the disciples (and us throughout these gospel chapters) that allow we were not yet in that place, we would always have the comfort and protection from God while here on earth.
13:34 This verse only need be repeated: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. Jesus devoted his entire life to humanity and ensuring their safety, health and strength of spirit.
13:35 We must represent God well: our kindness, justice, honesty and compassion must be the qualities through which people can also find Him for themselves.
Sadly, God is not represented very well these days by many people and organizations. In fact, people have used God and scripture violently, selfishly and intolerantly -- this has turned people away from God's philosophy. It has not been represented well. As God's children, we have a lot of work to do.
It's so important that we correct these misconceptions -- look at the light, guidance, wisdom and comfort God brings to our lives, everyone should feel safe and able to speak to Him, who He truly is.
Jesus loved without judgement, without selfish-motive, without enforcement. He loved all no matter their short-comings or their mistakes. Someone humans have manipulated scripture to judge, condemn and exclude each other. Jesus taught us that every faith is to be respected, that all who upheld compassion (no matter how they did so) were a part of His family.
13:36 Simon Peter does not understand yet where Jesus is about to return to. It's a complex conception, even today. Trust that in whatever form the spirit exists, it is filled with God's love and wisdom. We all follow Jesus after our lives on earth... whether or not we stay there is up to us and how we live our lives.
13:37-38 We spoke of this earlier: Simon Peter has strong faith but his faith is still vulnerable to fear. He does not yet realize that he's still afraid of his enemies. We read of this in previous chapters but will cover it again, in more depth, in the following chapters. This test of faith will enable Simon Peter to strengthen his faith and become a teacher of God's word after Jesus' return to God.
We all must be strong, but also brave in our faith -- the lives and well-being of others depend on it.
13:37-38 We spoke of this earlier: Simon Peter has strong faith but his faith is still vulnerable to fear. He does not yet realize that he's still afraid of his enemies. We read of this in previous chapters but will cover it again, in more depth, in the following chapters. This test of faith will enable Simon Peter to strengthen his faith and become a teacher of God's word after Jesus' return to God.
We all must be strong, but also brave in our faith -- the lives and well-being of others depend on it.
