October 30

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Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. John 13:3-4

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🔊 John does a surprising thing in these verses – he looks at Jesus and knows what He is thinking. John did not have any psychic powers to read someone’s mind – he simply looked at Jesus with a heart free from self and full of love. It is surprising how much the human heart reads things into situations. Folk will sit in Church meetings and be so absorbed with themselves and their problems that they will not lift up their hearts in worship, nor listen to the voice of God coming through prayers and preaching. John here demonstrates the attitude that the Holy Spirit forms in the heart of His people – He causes us to forget ourselves and our problems, and see the majesty of Christ. John saw an ordinary man, but he saw also the humility of Christ. He saw a man dressed as a slave, ready to wash people’s feet, but he also saw the tremendous authority and power underlying the servant love of Jesus. Blessed is the person who knows what Jesus is thinking – and we cannot get there without a steady, long gaze at Him, resolutely turning our thoughts away from ourselves, to become conscious of Him. The amazing thing is that this is so possible. The Holy Spirit is given to us to communicate the character and thoughts of God. If we will only fix our eyes in faith on Him, then there will be an inflow of power to live, motivated by the greatness of Christ. He will touch every situation, whether in the family or at work, in moments of joy or sorrow, on holiday or in bereavement. It is only through sensing the things that motivate Him that we are given abundant strength to live.