Questions – John 13:1-15

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.             

The intense light of these verses reveals a foundational reality; we live temporarily in a world inhabited by the devil. Foundational reality produces wisdom who teaches us that our hour of departure will also come. While we remain in this world there is both – a devil trying to plant lies in our hearts and, an opportunity for us to expose and overcome them. One surprising place God attempts to do this is at funerals.

Funerals remind us of our transience. These solemn assemblies are often the times of quiet we have failed to take, providing long overdue reflection. For an hour, deep calls unto deep, eternity tampers with the temporal, pressing upon us things we somehow know are vital. As Pastor asks, “Oh death, where is thy sting” many can find it right in their hearts as they mourn for others, and themselves. Our hearts may be at their very best, in these moments.

The grieving are then dismissed. We step outside, back onto the treadmill of this world, which is busy dying and trying hard not to think about it. I’m sure the devil meets us at the door and skillfully assists us in our return to denial. Many of Satan’s most potent lies are designed to mask our transcience. When we agree with them, we become friends of this world instead of remaining as the aliens and strangers, we actually are. So, what are we to do, embedded in a world that is asleep at the wheel? We can follow Jesus example …

If I then, the Lord and The Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

I have friends who engage in spiritual warfare at high levels. They are conscious of the battles, like the one where Daniel’s prayers hung-up for 21 days. I am grateful for their faith and their prayers. Even though they have a heavenly orientation, they recognize the battle has two fronts. They know, perhaps better than most, this same battle is being waged on earth where mankind is stumbling badly, trying to make sense of his brief appearance.

Where our feet come into contact with our wounded planet – defiled and defiant, we are not without exposure. As against of free will, we can succumb to the gravity of sin; we can be pulled into denial and the indulgences it facilitates. So, in order to equip the ground forces, the Lord said,

For I gave you an example that you should also do as I did to you…If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

The funeral home experience gave us a brief glimpse of the pain and loss that surrounds us. If our eyes could only remain open just a bit longer, after the last respects have been paid, we would discover that we are surrounded by lonely, hurting and confused people, most of whom are pursuing the American dream as their shot at happiness. Where this is the case, the enemy is winning; denial is serving his ends. Jesus calls this flock, “confused and aimless, sheep with no shepherd.”  And, he would add, “What a huge harvest!” (from Matt 9:36)

While the American dream has been lauded as the hope of mankind, it is at best, a temporary arrangement. One of the problems is that it was born in rebellion and still breeds, an independence that is incompatible with the kingdom of God. Capitalism and democracy have teamed up to generate more material blessing than any previous team but, surely we see that it has not insured peace and happiness. If its a good dream, why do we have the crisis’ we do?

Sadly, the wealth created in our pursuit of happiness, often creates space between us and our neighbors, both physical and relational. This is a problem since it is these neighbors Jesus told us to love as ourselves. How can we be isolated from others and serve them as the Lord instructed us to? The religious right will try me on counts of treason here but I believe there are fatal lies embedded in an uncensored American dream. If these so called fatal lies exist, what are they and, in what ways have we been duped?

So far in human history, free market capitalism has proven to be the most efficient way to create material abundance; yet, without self-denial it is will become the American nightmare. A dream that claims its independence from God and each other will soon see its own funeral. If the U.S. does not confirm its national soul in self-control it will fail to reconcile liberty and law. It will forfeit the true freedoms God intended for her. Here is a worthy plea by C. L. Bates …

America! America! / God mend thine ev’ry flaw, / confirm thy soul in self-control, / thy liberty in law.

We have moved in our grieving from our neighbor’s death to our nation’s dying. Can America be saved, or will the dream of it be encased in a coffin similar to Europe’s post-Christian model? Who will save us? If we think it will be the federal government, we are deluded. At the same time, we are equally deceived if we think, a new regime of politicians, who we like, will save us. The problem is much deeper than political discourse has address, so far.

As Arthur Brooks has proposed in his book, The Conservative Heart, our problems are not complicated matters that can be solved by public policy – this would be the pinnacle of arrogance. Our problems are complex and systemic, meaning, we are going to be living with them, and working through them, together, for a long while.  Jesus said, “The poor, you shall always have with you.” Brooks touts a kind of hope for America (including the poor) that is birthed in an others-oriented kind of independence. He envisions men becoming social entrepreneurs – innovators in serving others. He sees the ground troops creating abundance without being attached to it. Amen Arthur.

Without going christian-ese on his readership, he has found an overlap between the American dream and the kingdom of God. Isn’t there a movie, Mr. Brooks Goes To Washington? There is hope folks! He is already there. He is the President of the American Enterprise Institute. GIve him a call. At least read his book. Recall Reagan’s famous line …

In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem.

Having read Mr. Brooks views and those of Jesus, I might say …

In our present crisis, no institution (governmental or ecclesiastical), can be the solution to our problem. We must be the solution to our problem.

Back to the bible, which fortunately addresses the systemic problem we face …

There is hope. The New Testament is crammed with instruction on how we are to live together. This very moment you and I are connected to a variety of networks in our work, in leisure, and in family. Someone, right next to us, is needing us. God’s Kingdom will one day displace Satan’s temporal kingdom of lies. One day, by God’s grace, we will overcome the unhealthy type of independence which breeds isolation.

By God’s grace, our networks will one day connect. Kingdom communities will be birthed. Kingdom growth will be fostered as we identify the Satan’s lies and evict them. Momentum will build as we repent of our association with darkness. Our minds will become renewed and we will demonstrate the will of God – that which is good acceptable and perfect.

So, let’s find the soiled feet nearest us. Let’s gird ourselves with towels, and begin to cleanse what we may, here on earth in the lowest places, knowing we are fighting the good fight at a very high and strategic level. Remember Jesus promised …

                                If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Father, we pray you would awaken us from our slumber. Expose the enemy’s stratagems. Trump them with the Truth you have planted in our hearts . May it grow and produce an unimaginably large harvest. May the Word of God soon cover this earth as an ocean, displacing every lie that has held humanity in bondage since the Garden. Beginning with us, connect the army you have strategically located for the great and final crisis. Teach us to number our days that we may present to you a heart of wisdom.  Help us to resist the devil that he might flee from us in terror. Amen.

 

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