Don Baumann
Throughout history, there have been times when people felt the world around them had gone mad. From Homer and Seneca to Dostoevsky and Eisenhower, writers and states people have been astounded at the manner in which people in their day treated one another.
Ours qualifies as such a time. From the genocide perpetrated daily in Ukraine to the growing anger and confusion over what is true and what is not here at home, chaos surrounds us.
How are we to treat others in the midst of such instability? Some followers of Jesus are currently choosing a decidedly political route. Adopting an angry tone, their new mission involves berating and legislating those who differ into changing their behavior, without a corresponding change of heart and life.
Jesus left us an astounding example of how to treat others in the midst of madness. Before the Passover meal now known as the Last Supper, Jesus shocked His disciples by washing their feet (John 13:1-16). Imagine walking all day in the Pine Nuts wearing sandals: by day’s end your feet would be pretty dirty! A foot washing would be extremely refreshing.
The task, considered so menial that it was delegated only to non-Jewish servants, was performed by our Lord and Savior. The disciples, especially Simon Peter, were dumbfounded. Jesus met their need, despite the humble position it entailed.
Dinner was eaten lying down, with guests propping themselves on their elbows over a table. After He had finished, Jesus offered an explanation. “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 also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:12-15)
Consider Jesus’ personal circumstances: that very night, He was betrayed, arrested, tried and convicted of false charges during an illegal proceeding. Within 24 hours Jesus would have suffered for each of us and given up His life on a cruel Roman cross.
Consider the people Jesus served: in a few hours, all would run away and desert Him when He was arrested. Jesus even washed Judas’ feet, the one who was at that moment ready to carry out a plot against Him.
Jesus acts without manipulation, lectures, or threats. He humbly demonstrates God’s love by touching the disciples’ lives in a practical, personal way. Forgiveness and a renewed relationship greeted those who repented and, days later, responded once again in faith.
This is Jesus’ example for us, “that you should do as I have done for you.” First, have you placed your complete trust in Jesus Christ as the only way to be right with God? His death, burial, and resurrection are meant to change our lives completely.
Second, let’s consider how to reach out to those who may vigorously disagree with us, whose lifestyle may be antithetical to ours. Let our actions speak first, and much more loudly than our words. That’s our example for demonstrating God’s love in an increasingly chaotic world.
Don Baumann is a member of the Carson Valley Ministers’ Association.
