HUMBLING LEUKEMIA--SHE WAS JESUS

Leukemia and chemo is a very humbling experience.  There are times when one cannot get out of bed or do any personal self-care, due to the weakness.  And that's hard for most any American to take.

John 13:6-8

Context--Jesus with his disciples in the upper room, preparing them for his death, resurrection, ascension and them living life without him there.  Jesus is doing a task that only the lowliest slave of a house would do--washing people's dirty feet.

When Jesus gets to Peter, he protests--"Lord you will never wash my feet."  You are rabbi and leader, Lord.  You shouldn't be doing this lowly task.  (Notice Peter didn't offer in the text to get up and take Jesus' place.)  Jesus explained to Peter that Peter did not yet understand what Jesus was doing (or about to do in going to crucifixion for Peter and all others.  Jesus would lower Himself again, through the Cross, and take the sin of the world.

A few days after the stem cell transplant, I was sitting up in chair and able to do my own bath, but could still not get to my feet due to swelling in my legs.  The nurse tech washed them for me, and it dawned on me, and I said it, John 13.  I told her about how Jesus had washed the feet of his disciples just as she was washing my feet.  The worst day with the feet was the day they had sweated very badly, and smelled very badly, and I told her to just get two tubs of water to let me put them in and soak because they were terrible to me.  But she did so without complaining or making me feel like I was less than a person.

It was humbling for me when my wife did this, but even more humbling when a nurse tech, one I didn't know well at all, was doing this and other self-care for me. 

What did Peter learn (and I learn) that could help us live our lives with the Lord better?

• None of us (especially Christians) should be too good to humble ourselves, lower ourselves to meet a practical need another has.  We all are equal in the sight of God.
• None of us should be too good to humble ourselves, and let another serve us, when it is our time to have a need, and someone comes to help and serve.  Ecclesiastes 3 says, "There is a time for every purpose under heaven"--a time to be well and a time to be sick.  Do not rob someone of their opportunity to minister and serve.
• What is important is not "position" in life; what is important is doing what God asks us to do.
• Meeting practical needs is showing Jesus' love and humility.  Follow His example.  (Remember, Jesus original call to Peter was "Follow Me.")
• Spiritual eyes must be open for practical needs to be seen, and spiritual hearts must be open to move from seeing to doing.  But that's what faith is--seeing, believing, and then doing--"follow up or follow Me."

What do you learn from this important episode in Peter's life?