BEN AVERITT

As Jesus prepared to have His last Passover meal with His disciples, He teaches them a lesson about humility and service they would never forget. To their amazement, Jesus began to wash His disciple’s feet in preparation of the Passover meal. The act of foot washing was relegated to the lowliest of servant, one of no reputation or distinction. Yet Jesus, who was to these men, their "teacher and Lord", wanted to make a lasting impression about what it looked like and what it means to be a disciple of His. If they were going to 'follow' Jesus as teacher and Lord, they were going to need to learn a greater level of humility. Christ-like service most often requires great humility and thus a willingness to also "wash one another's feet." How are we, those calling Jesus "teacher and Lord" today, doing at humility and service to others? Remember, Jesus said in verse 17, "if you know these things, you are blessed if you DO them." His blessings are there for our taking...humbly serve others for His sake and you will see!

Jesus teaches us a very profound truth...in v.24 He said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." Jesus is saying, 'death is the way to life'. Yet so many never understand this teaching and thus seek for life in their short stay on this earth. This is why Jesus teaches in v.25, "He who loves his life loses it...", because as He also taught, 'narrow is the way to life and FEW there be who enter thereby...". The man or woman who loves his earthly life and thus lives to find life in this life...ultimately lose REAL life eternally with God. How sad...but how true this is...look at so many, even nominal Christians, who are living for all the life they can get out of their time on earth. Conversely, Jesus continues in v.25 by teaching that "...he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal." To 'hate his life' means to be so committed to Christ and His gospel that you have no 'self-centeredness’; Christ, His life, His commission, His calling, His gifting, His love, His body, His return...have arrested your self-interest and given all of life NEW meaning and hope and direction. Whatever you do is now for the glory of God and not for self promotion (Colossians 3:23-24).

However...not all will see the truth of Christ's teaching. They didn't see it when He walked on earth doing miracles before their very eyes...and many will not see even to this day. John says in v.37-40 "But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.”

This is why "the Son of Man" (Jesus Christ) "must be lifted up" (v.34); meaning death by crucifixion on a cross. Because death bring life...and His death brings life to ALL who look to Him for salvation. "While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light (v.36)." Death truly is the way to life...life eternal!

Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, at much cost to herself, pours "a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard" on the feet of Jesus and then wiped His feet with her hair. Jesus connects this anointing with his imminent burial (v.7), and the appropriateness of Mary's action in light of the same (v.8). Extravagant gestures confirming the reality of Christ and His gospel are never in vain. How might you extravagantly proclaim Christ?

An overarching theme of Scripture is the glory of God and that God does all things for His own glory. Here we see in John 11 the very familiar account of Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary. The sisters sent word to Jesus letting Him know that Lazarus was sick and in need of Jesus' healing ministry. But when Jesus learned of this sickness, his first response was not to immediately go to Lazarus to minister to his needs though He clearly loved him. Jesus waited a couple extra days before going to see Martha and Mary, knowing that those extra days would allow Lazarus to be dead long enough to cause a little stink. So, when Jesus heard the news of Lazarus' sickness unto death, he said to His disciples, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it (v.4)." Jesus raising Lazarus from death, though beneficial perhaps to Lazarus and his sisters, has its purpose rooted in something far greater than the immediate need of man. We see clearly that Jesus' aim, His goal, was and is one thing...the glory of God and His share in it. As the resurrection of dead Lazarus would singularly manifest the splendor of God, Jesus clearly intended that glory to be shared in by "the Son of God", so that those looking on "may believe" that Jesus and the Father are one.

The Feast of Dedication commemorates the re-consecration of the temple by Judas Maccabeus on Kislev 25, 165 B.C. after its desecration in 168 B.C. by Antiochus IV (Epiphanies). Study Daniel 11:21-35 for background material for the Feast of Dedication. This Feast today is called Hanukkah or by some the Feast of Lights and is the only Feast celebrated that wasn't commanded by God through Moses.

So, as the Jews were 'remembering' their last great deliverance, and looking for their next deliverance (from Roman oppression), they "gather around Jesus" asking Him to tell them plainly if He is "the Christ" (meaning Messiah/Savior). Jesus tells them that the "works" (i.e. miracles) he has done testify of Him being the Christ. However, and these are some tough words, Jesus tells them that they "do not believe" (in Jesus as being the appointed 'Christ'), "because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand." Jesus clearly tells these Jews that they are lost and without eternal life before the Father. So He calls them to "believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father." The same is true today...eternal life with God is reserved for those who are 'sheep' in Jesus' pasture; and while there is still time to believe in the 'works' He accomplished, those who currently are not His 'sheep' have time to change their mind (repent), "so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Jesus, and Jesus is in the Father."