A Subtler Form of Obedience
Jesus washed His disciples’ feet to demonstrate that a slave isn’t above his master:
“You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. Then, if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is the apostle greater than the one who sent him.” [Jn. 13:13-16]
This significance of this verse could be lost if I think He was just explaining to us how to humble ourselves. Sure, He was setting an example of servanthood for His disciples: “…you [all] also ought to wash one another’s feet.“
But I used to miss what was perhaps the real intention of that example.
While the obligations of a slave always fall beneath the authority of his master, his ability to endure the tiresome nature of that task must also. In other words, the results of his obedience don’t always provide visible evidence of persecution or humiliation.
More often than not, they’re simply routine and uneventful. So, I don’t get to pick and choose how or when I want to demonstrate obedience to my Master in a manner that the world will notice it.
If I did, I’d be placing myself above Him.
If He struggled to exist in a fallen world, I have to be willing to do the same. If He was willing to die that others might live, so should I. And if He takes the time to accomplish something so menial as washing feet, I’d better be able to follow that example.
But I don’t have to have an audience.
Obedience is most often a measure of a man’s unwitnessed capacity for endurance, held confidently of being confirmed and rewarded in the presence of The Light when He returns.
“But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” [the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matt. 24:13]
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I just want be clear on your understanding of this verse. Whe Jesus says , “The one who endures to the end will be saved !” He doesn’t mean under our own strength. All true believers will endure to the end because Jesus Himself will complete our salvation. He is the one who will hold us fast and complete the work He started in us. So those endure , endure because they are true believers and chosen by God.
Thanks Bill, but I’d be hard pressed to read any more into Matt. 24:13 [or parallel synoptic verses] other than it’s a conditional sentence contextually.
True, the Spirit guides the faithful, and He plays an integral role in the salvation process. But to suggest that the Lord’s words, “The one who endures to the end will be saved !” assigns no action to the subject, that is, “the one enduring,” would seem to negate His obvious design of building free will into the human character, wouldn’t it?
I can appreciate your noting that our “salvation” isn’t yet complete. This term, σωτηρία: (sōteria] salvation, is most commonly understood as a real time phenomenon of being “saved” from the present day slave market of sin, while Peter referred to it as something to be revealed at a later time. [1 Pet. 1:3-5] It has a broad semantical range and the context must always be defined to be understood. See: https://www.cjournal.me/archives/12326
I see endurance as a reciprocal process involving the man and the Spirit. While the Lord can certainly make anything happen, I don’t believe He would allow it to happen without the input of both parties. Without the dynamic of free will, there can be no such thing as relationships.