"Do And Teach"

I enjoy reading the devotional booklet, "Our Daily Bread" published by RBC Ministries located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The most recent post was a timely message in light of the violence in our country resulting from the murder of George Floyd. The devotional focused on the story of a young man named Patrick, who was wounded yet managed to survive the Colombine High School massacre in Colorado. The story emphasized how Patrick harbored feelings of bitterness following the shootings and wondered why he had survived. During his recovery, God showed Patrick that the key to forgiveness is to stop focusing on what others have done to us and to focus on what Jesus has done for us. Twenty years after the tragedy, Patrick came to the conclusion that maybe God had spared him and chosen him to forgive. Perhaps, God was calling Patrick to a ministry of forgiveness and reconciliation, the very thing that Jesus demonstrated to us.

JESUS WASHED HIS DISCIPLE'S FEET

 After reading this devotional I was drawn to John chapter 13. This is the story of Jesus' last time of intimacy with His disciples prior to His crucifixion. Jesus, in a total act of humility washes His disciples feet, including the feet of the one who was to betray Him. John tells us, "When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" He asked them. "You call Me 'Teacher and Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13:12-17 NIV) Notice how Jesus emphasis in the text is on "doing" and this is the heart of the story. Luke reinforces this principle in the book of Acts, "In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen." (Acts 1:1-2 NIV)

WE ARE CALLED TO ACTION

 We in the church tend to focus on teaching and then telling people what to do. However, many times we fail to follow through with what we have learned. We can acknowledge what a great sermon we heard but then return to our homes and continue on with our lives. When we actively do something first, it opens the door for people to catch a glimpse of Jesus. Many of us will never endure the horrible tragedy of Colombine or have our lives needlessly cut short by someone's knee on our throat cutting off our air supply while we beg for mercy. However, all of us will experience at some point being wronged by another person. A spouse commits adultery, a child rebels, an employer is abusive. What action can we take to move on? Perhaps, we need to look at the example of our Savior. In the face of betrayal, Jesus chose to do something, He washed His disciple's feet. He didn't merely lecture His disciples, He showed them what to do. In the face of rejection, abandonment, torture, and crucifixion, Jesus chose to do something, He went to the cross and ultimately forgave those who crucified Him. (Luke 23:34) Jesus died for our collective sins, for the officer who put his knee on George Floyd's neck, for the people who are perpetrating violence in our cities, for you and for me.

WE ARE CALLED TO EMULATE JESUS

In some ways we are not unlike that officer, putting our collective knees on the throat of Jesus, allowing a sinless, innocent man to die and suffer on a cross in agony. It's an ugly truth to think about and even harder to swallow. However, if we are followers of Jesus Christ, called to be His messengers of forgiveness and reconciliation then we need to emulate the example of our Lord. We need to stop sitting around in our peaceful bubble exchanging gracious platitudes like, "I have nothing against black people", or "I don't even notice color", or "Some of my best friends are black." We need to actively be peacemakers literally "making peace" through standing up for and speaking out against racial inequality. If Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had sat back and simply adopted the attitude, "Well, I'll just pray that the Lord will open the eyes of the white people and hopefully things will change," there would have been no Civil Rights Movement. However, He followed the example of Jesus to do and teach without violence and as a result the world took notice, responded, and change took place. I applaud similar actions that are taking place even in the midst of today's violence. Police officers are walking with protestors and at times kneeling with them. These officers are doing something and by their actions teaching people that the injustice needs to end. I am a black woman but my identity is not found in my color or my gender but my identity is rooted in Jesus Christ. Racism is sewn into the fabric of our culture and will continue to exist as long as the heart of mankind remains unchanged apart from transformation through Jesus Christ. However, like Dr. King brought forth change through peaceful non-violence we can do the same and teach others by example. And as our Lord told His disciples, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13:17 NIV)
Peace and Blessings,
Pastor Sheree