Latest / Eurasia Region Podcast / S1-E96 | Everyday Eurasia | Tom Burke

Transcript

S1-E96 | Everyday Eurasia | Tom Burke · Eurasia Region Podcast

• 0:00
  Hello and welcome to the Everyday Eurasia podcast,
• 0:04
  Inspiring Faith for Every Day. Each day we are on a journey
• 0:08
  with Jesus in our churches, our homes, our workplaces, and in so
• 0:13
  many different places around the world.
• 0:16
  Is it beautiful that no matter where we are, we can walk with
• 0:20
  him every single day? Jesus is the one who connects us
• 0:24
  all and stands at the very center of our lives day after
• 0:28
  day. Through this podcast, you'll
• 0:30
  hear voices from across the region sharing devotionals that
• 0:34
  reminds us of cuts presence in our everyday moments.
• 0:43
  This week on the Everyday Eurasia Podcast, we are joined
• 0:45
  by the Northern Europe Field. Each day we hear stories and
• 0:49
  devotionals from across the field, offering a glimpse into
• 0:52
  the life and ministry of the church in this part of the
• 0:55
  region. Today we will listen to Tom
• 0:58
  Berg. Tom Berg is a husband, father
• 1:00
  and pastor serving at Grove Church of the Nazarene in
• 1:03
  Manchester. John 13, Three to 15.
• 1:08
  Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power
• 1:12
  and that he had come from God and was returning to God.
• 1:16
  So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing and
• 1:19
  wrapped a towel around his waist.
• 1:22
  After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash his
• 1:27
  disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped
• 1:30
  around him. He came to Simon Peter who said
• 1:34
  to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet?
• 1:38
  Jesus replied, You do not realise now what I'm doing, but
• 1:42
  later you'll understand. No, said Peter, You shall never
• 1:46
  wash my feet. Jesus answered, unless I wash
• 1:51
  you, you have no part with me then, Lord Simon, Peter replied,
• 1:56
  not just my feet, but my hands and my head as well.
• 2:00
  And Jesus answered, those who have had a bath need only to
• 2:04
  wash their feet. Their whole body is clean and
• 2:06
  you are clean, though not everyone of you.
• 2:09
  For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he
• 2:12
  said not everyone was clean. When he had finished washing
• 2:16
  their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his
• 2:19
  place. Do you understand what I've done
• 2:22
  for you? He asked them.
• 2:24
  You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what
• 2:27
  I am. Now that I, your Lord and
• 2:30
  Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one
• 2:33
  another's feet. I've set you an example that you
• 2:37
  should do as I have done for you.
• 2:41
  The conversation Jesus has with his disciples deals with their
• 2:44
  identity. It gives him an opportunity to
• 2:47
  reveal to them the greater purpose of his ministry and what
• 2:51
  it means for them to be his followers.
• 2:54
  Peter gives a type of response to Jesus that we've kind of come
• 2:58
  to expect. It's enthusiastic, but
• 3:02
  misplaced. Jesus isn't mad or frustrated
• 3:06
  this time, though. Peter's enthusiasm, I think, is
• 3:10
  a good thing. It shows his love for Jesus and
• 3:12
  his recognition of who Jesus is. How could Jesus, the Son of God,
• 3:18
  be washing his feet? But ultimately, Jesus is showing
• 3:23
  the disciples that the years they have spent together have
• 3:26
  been about far more than miracles and sound teaching, but
• 3:31
  about saving us from who we were and revealing to us who we truly
• 3:37
  are as children of God. And it's only possible to be
• 3:40
  made new, to be washed clean by Jesus.
• 3:44
  If we belong to Jesus, we are clean.
• 3:51
  That is our identity. Whoever you are, wherever you've
• 3:57
  been, however broken you might feel, Jesus does the work of
• 4:03
  cleansing us and restoring us, making us righteous and showing
• 4:08
  us our true identity as children of God.
• 4:13
  And it's from that place that Jesus tells the disciples that
• 4:17
  they are to follow his example of service to them.
• 4:21
  The God of the universe shows us his deep, deep love, His
• 4:26
  humility, and His desire to serve us and sacrifice for us
• 4:32
  through the act of washing feet. And we're called to reflect that
• 4:37
  in how we live our lives. Our response to finding our
• 4:42
  identity firmly as children of God is to follow in his
• 4:46
  footsteps and live lives that are primarily dedicated to
• 4:53
  serving others. So let us be the people in this
• 4:58
  world that are generous with our time and our money.
• 5:02
  The people who are always there till the end.
• 5:06
  The people washing the dishes, the people cleaning the toilets
• 5:09
  or sweeping the floors. The people who see The ones who
• 5:13
  are most in need and associate with the poor and the lonely.
• 5:19
  The people who are willing to go the extra mile and to complete
• 5:24
  the thankless task. And especially to do so when no
• 5:27
  one else sees, without any desire for credit or honour.
• 5:34
  That is what it looks like to be followers of Jesus pouring out
• 5:39
  from that place of freedom. Because we are loved, we are
• 5:43
  redeemed, and we are called children of God.
• 5:47
  Let's pray. Father, we thank you for the
• 5:51
  wonderful gift of your Son Jesus Christ.
• 5:55
  Through the Spirit. We ask that you would remind us
• 5:57
  today how deeply you love us, and from that love might we be
• 6:02
  encouraged or even implored to serve the world around us, so
• 6:06
  that others might see your Kingdom and experience the
• 6:10
  riches of your love. Amen.
• 6:14
  Thank you for listening to the Everyday Eurasia podcast
• 6:17
  Inspiring Faith for Everyday. For more Everyday stories,
• 6:22
  subscribe on this podcast channel, follow our socials,
• 6:25
  Facebook and Instagram, or our newsletter Snapshots.
• 6:28
  For our newsletter and further information about the Eurasia
• 6:32
  region, visit our website, Eurasia regionorg.