The bucket list

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you." John 3:14,15

Most everyone has a bucket list or a list of things they want to achieve or experience before they die. For some it may be completing a marathon, climbing to the top of Mt. Everest or taking a missions trip deep in the jungles of Africa. Scripture tells us that on Holy Thursday, the day before Good Friday, Jesus had two important things he wanted to do before his death-which he knew was imminent. First, Jesus wanted to celebrate the Last Supper with His disciples and thereby establish the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion (Luke 22:19-20). He then wanted to set the example of how you and I are to love one another with humility so that we could follow it:

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly,truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:3-17)

As always, and even to the end, Jesus thought of others before himself. He loved us then enough to die on the cross and He loves us now enough to give us his Word that we might follow his example. To think that on that holy bucket list, you and I were one of those "things" that Jesus was concerned with!! As we prepare our hearts to celebrate this Resurrection Day, may you and I, with all humility strive to love others as Jesus loved us. Because, in the words of D.R. Kingma, "In the end nothing we do or say in this lifetime will matter as much as the way we have loved one another." 

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you would send your Son to die for our sins. Thank you for loving us so much that you would give us your Word to show us your will. Help us to follow the example of Jesus Christ who humbly loved and served others putting their needs before his. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

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Love others-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxrU03SC7lM