Daily Dose of The Word of God - John 12: 1-5

Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor

Transcript

Gregg DeMey  0:07  

Good morning and welcome to Elmhurst CRC's Daily Dose of the Word of God. This is Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor of the church. It's Thursday, April 17th -Maundy Thursday of Holy Week - and we are journeying with Jesus toward Jerusalem, the cross and beyond. Today's reading is from John chapter 13, verses 1 through 5.

Gregg DeMey 0:28  

It 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.  The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Gregg DeMey  1:13  

When I turn my attention to Jesus in this Holy Week, one of the most beautiful things that I see in him is his desire for companionship in the way he expressed his friendship toward his disciples (and toward the likes of us). When Jesus first called his disciples, the scriptures say that he chose the ones that, "he wanted to be with Him." Jesus was no lone ranger Messiah - he chose to be with others from the very beginning and now here at the end, Jesus keeps choosing this intimate human connection. On the cusp of his suffering (and knowing that he would have to endure the hardest things ever), Jesus did not hunker down into his own little world, but rather turned outwards toward his friends. He "Loved them to the end." Even Judas, who was there when our Lord got up from the table, took off his outer shirt, poured water into the foot basin, and began doing the lowest of the servants job. Jesus was their leader and servant. He's our leader, our servant and Savior - those things go hand in hand. When things get hard or painful for me, I tend to get focused blinders on and try to push through. I think that's how it goes for many of us, but Jesus has so much love that even when faced with the worst, he still had the capacity and took the time to see and serve others and those around him.

Gregg DeMey 3:01  

Friends, I invite you to come and see our Savior today. Perhaps you're at home later this evening - you could read and remember what Jesus did by simply reading the Gospel of John, chapter 13, verses 1 through 30. But if you're free, I would invite you to come to our sanctuary at 7pm for a Maundy Thursday worship service in which we'll turn our attention to Jesus altogether and receive from him the gifts of bread and wine, his body, his blood.

Gregg DeMey  3:30  

Let's pray. Jesus, today I give you my attention and my affection. Help me linger with you and stay with you through these holy days, amen.