When The King Of Kings Bent His Knees

Look at the reaction of the people when Jesus preached in His own town:

Mark 6:1 “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, a Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

But Jesus chose a common life, a common family, a common upbringing. And when He chose His men, He chose common men.

And the Bible says they were arguing among themselves who would be the greatest among them. James and John went so far as political maneuvering, coming to Jesus, requesting to be on His right and left side when He comes into His kingdom. I am convinced John will be granted this, but that is another Bible study. But how angry the other apostles were when they heard about it! How angry the apostles must have been at Peter, who was loud and obnoxious, abrasive, he declared openly that the others might deny The Lord, but he would never deny Him. The disciples did not understand what Spirit they were of. Even on the way to Jerusalem, where Jesus was to die, James and John wanted to call down fire from Heaven to destroy the Samaritans.

This happens today. Sometimes we do not realize what the call of Jesus means, and we fall into politics, political maneuverings. I have been to ministers meetings that rivaled any meeting of the Republicans and Democrats. I have seen men tear down other men, jostling for a position in a man-made organization. That is not the will of God, and it grieves His Spirit.

But Jesus took a towel, and girded Himself with it. He took water and poured it into a basin. He knelt down, He, The King of Kings bent His knees before these common men, these men with their infightings, their politics, and their failure to understand. He washed their feet.

We are not to be like the world. We are not to fight among each other, jostling for position, fighting for our own point of view.

After He washed their feet, He gave them a new command.

John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

1 John 4:19, “We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

John could not make it any clearer than this. If you hate your brother or sister, you do not love God. Let God be true, but every man a liar. You can say you love your brother, but if you tear him down, seek his hurt, then you do not love him. And you do not love God, either.

Gal. 6:1, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”