What sort of leader ...

There has always been something about this passage for me. I like the idea that says, a leader is someone who is humble enough to help others with whatever is needed. So for Jesus to disrobe, place a towel around his waist and wash the feet of the disciples appeals to me.

I have met leaders that were good at what they do. They were thoughtful. They were knowledgeable. They were visionary. But, the thing that seemed lacking to me was that after a function, they were lax in picking up a tea towel and pitching in to help out. It seemed like it was below them to do this.

Have a look at the reading:

John 13:1-17 (New Living Translation)

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.[a] 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas,[b] son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet,[c] to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

Lord, help me to remain humble throughout life. Help me to remember the lessons I have learnt to date, whereby I will be a servant leader. As Jesus was inclined to get down and wash the feet of His disciples, may it be that I am not beyond performing even the most menial of tasks, alongside others, for others.

The whole story ...

Have you ever found yourself to have made a conclusion regarding something, only to find later that you didn't have the whole story told to you in the first place (only a partial, incomplete representation had been given to you). It was a bit like that for me tonight with the readings (Scriptures). And unless you are used to a reading plan like the "Life Journal Reading Plan" such as I use, you may not be aware that passages such as 1 & 2 Kings, coincide with 1 & 2 Chronicles to reveal the same accounts in history. Certainly my ignorance saw me at times neglect some of these passages because I didn't capture the significance of the lessons to be learnt, or I couldn't see past the detail of who belonged to which family and how long they reigned and what their reign was like (he did what was evil in the Lord's sight ..., he did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight ...). 

So, having read of the disastrous reign of King Manasseh, I thought here we go again. Another one of those King's given the privilege of leading a people who seemed to get it all wrong and affect the people in the process too:

2 Kings 21:16 (New Living Translation)

16 Manasseh also murdered many innocent people until Jerusalem was filled from one end to the other with innocent blood. This was in addition to the sin that he caused the people of Judah to commit, leading them to do evil in the Lord’s sight.

Well that was the incomplete picture I gleaned from 2 Kings until I turned over and read the following (missing element of the same story):

2 Chronicles 33:11-13 (New Living Translation)

11 So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. 12 But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God!

Now I reckon that makes a whole lot of difference to the story. The fact that Manasseh comes to his senses, humbles himself before the Lord and repents of his past actions and leading of the people. Why does it make such a difference to me? Because it resembles "hope". Here is an account of someone in power, getting it totally wrong, leading others in the wrong direction too. And in these circumstances we tend to believe that is it, there is no hope for change, no possibility for a turn around, all is lost. But no!

I continue to be blown away with the amazing way that God speaks into the lives of people. No matter how much I may have given up on the possibility of change for someone's life, God doesn't, and I am so glad of that. I am glad the Lord continues to stretch my faith and challenge me to see more possibilities, more hope, more good. I so want to be a part of His plan for the people around me.

The requirements ...

Constantly we discover in the Old Testament, God trying to get through to His chosen people. At times they seem to get it, then it appears they loose their focus again, wander off doing their own thing a while, until something happens or someone else comes along with a message from God to remind them. Here is where the prophets come in (and finally in the New Testament Jesus BECOMES the Living Word). Micah is one of these early prophets. In today's chapter we find God spelling out for the people of Israel:

Micah 6:5 (New Living Translation)

5 Don’t you remember, my people,

how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed

and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead?

And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal,

when I, the Lord, did everything I could

to teach you about my faithfulness.”

God time and time again attempted to make it clear that He desired to be in relationship with His people. He continues to be faithful in this. The real message for us in this passage comes next. Maybe we wonder ourselves, how do I respond to this? How might I make it right with God? What is it He might require of me in response to His faithfulness, His forgiveness, His provision for me being enabled to come back into relationship with Him? Well you might actually be surprised how simple it actually is, examine the dialogue with me:

Micah 6:6-8 (New Living Translation)

6 What can we bring to the Lord?

What kind of offerings should we give him?

Should we bow before God

with offerings of yearling calves?

7 Should we offer him thousands of rams

and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?

Should we sacrifice our firstborn children

to pay for our sins?

8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,

and this is what he requires of you:

to do what is right, to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with your God.

And again:
 

Micah 6:6-8 (The Message)

6-7How can I stand up before God

and show proper respect to the high God?

Should I bring an armload of offerings

topped off with yearling calves?

Would God be impressed with thousands of rams,

with buckets and barrels of olive oil?

Would he be moved if I sacrificed my firstborn child,

my precious baby, to cancel my sin?

8But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do,

what God is looking for in men and women.

It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,

be compassionate and loyal in your love,

And don't take yourself too seriously—

take God seriously.

Now I reckon you would join me in agreeing that this is possible. It is something we can achieve, especially with the Spirit of God helping us. Think of the impact we will have upon our communities if we took this seriously. You want to transform society? Well I reckon this is a great way to do it - will you join me?