Leaving And Grieving

Have you ever had to leave loved ones who were an important part of your daily life and go to a place where you knew physical contact with them would not be possible?  Have loved ones ever left you behind when they departed to a far off place? 

When Jesus was nearing the end of His mission on earth,  He wanted to prepare His disciples for His departure and so He started to tell them what was about to take place.  While the group was gathered for the last supper that Jesus would eat with them on earth, Jesus put a towel around His waist and started to wash his disciples’ feet.  This was an odd thing to do as this task was normally assigned to the lowliest servant of a household.  Here was Jesus their Lord and Master preparing to wash the feet of each of His disciples.  Simon Peter, one of the disciples, was appalled at this lowly task being performed by Jesus and at first was unwilling to allow Jesus to wash his feet. 

Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”  Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”  Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”  Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean" (John 13:8-10 NKJV)

Jesus’ example of washing His disciples’ feet was in preparation for His departure from them.  He was demonstrating to them how they should love and serve one another.  He knew how they would feel after they deserted Him on this very night He was washing their feet.  He knew they would need to be together as they grieved the things that were about to happen.  He knew they would need to encourage and build up one another as the time was ripe for the things that His Father had planned were about to take place.

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him." (John 13:12-16 NKJV)

When you are grieving over leaving your loved ones behind or being left behind by your loved ones, do you consider that God may have a plan in all of this?  Will you allow Jesus to come along side you and prepare you for what our loving Heavenly Father has already prepared in advance for you to do?  Jesus is as concerned for you today as He was for His disciples when He began preparing them for His departure and their future.

©2013 Partners in Hope