3-23-2021

 Good Morning All,

   John 13:17: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”   

    This verse comes from what we call the “Upper Room” discourse.  This occurs on what we call Maundy (or Holy) Thursday.  Jesus is spending the last night with his disciples before he is betrayed by Judas.  He was giving them the instructions that they would need to manage these next few days.  In the first part of chapter 13, we see Jesus as he demonstrates true humility.  He washes the feet of each of them, a menial task usually performed by the lowliest slave.  In the next section he teaches about holiness.  This is about being different from the world, we are to love one another and not be jealous or envious.  In this verse, Jesus tells us about happiness or being blessed.  Our happiness is based on holiness and humility.  We are given Jesus’ holiness so that we can stand before God, so we can come to God in prayer in confidence.  This is given to us; we do nothing to earn it.  Because of this fact, we should be humble, humble before God.

    But we see that knowing what is right and proper is not enough to keep us happy; we must put this knowledge in practice.  Jesus has just shown his disciples a lesson in humility, in serving others. This is where the Christian finds his contentment.  We are returning to the original reason we were created, to take care of the creation.  The world will ask,” how many people serve you?”  God asks us,” how many do you serve?’  How many do we help?  How many feet have you washed today?  While this may sound strange to the world, God gives us peace and happiness in our task.  We have no great effort to do to earn our salvation, we have no great work to do to battle the devil; Jesus has done this already for us.  Now that we are saved; we are free to enjoy his grace and to share his love with those around us.  This is part of God's plan for you; to enjoy the life that He gives you. 

    When we are returned to our original purpose, the joy of serving God by serving others, we find the peace that God wants us to have.  It is in his service that we find contentment.  When we seek what the world calls “happiness”, it is hollow.  This is why those who succeed by the world’s standard are rarely content.  They always need more because what they have now is not enough, it is not satisfying.  The millionaire needs to be a multi-millionaire who needs to be a billionaire.  There is never satisfaction, there is never contentment.  Jesus shows us contentment.  It is by his death and resurrection that we are freed from the bondage of sin.  We are freed to be what we are meant to be, caretakers of God’s creation.  It is when we fulfill our purpose that joy and contentment are known and when we know this, we are blessed when we do this.

Lord Jesus, we are too often unhappy because we do not place our trust in you.  Forgive us our weaknesses and sins.  Give us strength to follow you with all humility and holiness.  Use us as your hands to serve others that we know true happiness in your grace.  In your name we pray, Amen.

God’s Peace

Pastor Bret