5k Every Day in the Month of May 2017 (Day 27)
On day 27 I woke up at 6am for an epic 12 mile run, then went back to sleep.
I woke up again at 8am to join my wife. She was going to walk a 5k and I was going to run. Instead, I went back to sleep.
I woke up again at 9am and went out for the most uninspiring 5k of my life.
After our trip to the zoo, our kids all stayed overnight at their grandparents’ house. Jodi and I got to have an amazing night on our own… going grocery shopping. With no kids at home, it just seemed like a perfect opportunity to sleep in. We don’t get many opportunities like that around here.
Once I finally got my feet moving, I ended up running 3.2 miles in 26 minutes and 35 seconds, which was an average pace of 8:04 per mile.
While I was running, I was thinking about John 13 and Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. Several years ago I took some online Bible classes with a prominent Bible school. They were good classes, but in one of my classes I had to write a report on John 13. I got a terrible grade on the paper.
I argued that Pastors should not preach about Jesus washing the feet of Judas, who was to betray him, because it is not something that is clearly seen in the text. In fact, after reading and deeply studying the passage, I had come to the conclusion that Jesus probably did not wash Judas’ feet.
Mathematically, it doesn’t make sense that he was all of the disciples’ feet. Conservatively speaking, let’s say it took 3 minutes per disciple to wash their feet. That is 36 minutes of feet washing after dinner had already been served. The Bible says that Jesus “rose from supper” (see John 13:4) to begin washing feet, and after he is finished he goes back to dipping bread (see John 13:26). I really don’t believe that Jesus made his disciples wait a half hour in the middle of the meal to resume eating. Mathematically it doesn’t make sense.
Neither did he have to wash all of their feet in order to make the point. We live in a world where everything has to be “fair”. The general line of thinking is, “if you do it for one person, you have to do it for everyone.” Well, that is just dumb. The point that Jesus made by washing Simon Peter’s feet was plenty good enough. The Master was willing to be the servant. There was no need to wash all 24 feet in order to make that point.
My guess is that Jesus washed the feet of Peter, James, and John. It would not have been abnormal for the “inner three” to have special treatment, or to be used as an example. By washing their feet, he may have spent nearly 10 minutes in the middle of supper and sufficiently made his point.
He also made it a point during his teaching to point out that not everyone was clean., referring specifically to Judas.
Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” – John 13:10-11
It seems highly unlikely to me that Jesus would have washed Judas’ feet AND made this very obvious statement about Judas not being clean in the same short stretch of time.
So why do so many Pastors teach and preach that Jesus washed the feet of Judas during the last supper? And why did I get a bad grade on my paper for suggesting the opposite?
I think sometimes we are really uncomfortable with the real Jesus.
Yes, Jesus said that we should pray for our enemies (see Matthew 5:44), but he also said that he did not come to bring peace, but a sword (see Matthew 10:34).
Maybe Jesus really did wash the feet of his betrayer on the night of his betrayal, knowing that he would be turned over to the religious leaders on that very night.
Maybe.
Maybe not.
The Bible definitely does NOT say that he did.
I was bummed out about my bad grade and wondered if I was the only one who read the text in this way. Then several weeks later I went to see a live drama portraying the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. During the drama, at the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of several of his disciples while he spoke the words of John 13. Then, coming to Judas, he looked him straight in the eyes and dumped the water on the ground…
Apparently I am not the only person to think that is probably how it happened.
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Never thought about fhat. Hmm. I need to read that again.
Ran a 5k on the treadmill. Having to do that more often to fit into the schedule. Almost done!!!
Almost done!
I had a great run/walk. I’ve learned that eating anything with milk causes me to get side cramps, which is why I can’t always run the whole 5K. Lesson learned.
Reading the story of Lazarus was interesting. I pictured it while I was reading it, how would I react if someone I loved had died and 4 days later come back to life…. wowzers!
Another thing that stood out to me in chapter 12 when Jesus said
“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25″
This was interesting to me. I can say there are days when I “hated” my life. Especially this year. But I never thought about hating my life in this world in order to have eternal life.
I don’t think Jesus really wants us to hate our lives -especially not in a suicidal way, or anything like that. I think he is just warning us against being so concerned about our lives that he is in second place. Jesus is the king of hyperboles.
Yea, your probly right. Admittedly I’ve been at that place, though. Not that I’d go that far but there’s times I’ve felt it’s not worth living, but God reminds me I am worth it, and Satans a liar.
I ran after getting up this morning and my legs were heavy. I could not get below a 9:00 pace. First mile was 9:23 second mile was a 9:38 and third mile was down hill done but I had a 8:11. I was so close to getting my pace to a high 7:00. Over all it came out to a 8:57 pace. I’ll take it.
Jesus said this when he was at Lazarus grave site. “So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.””
John 11:41-42 ESV
Couple things stuck out to me. Jesus thanking God for healing him. The other thing was Jesus talking about God always hearing
Him. That’s how God Is. He hears everything. He’s always there.
I have definitely experienced the “heavy legs syndrome” before. Way to get it done (even if a little slower than you were hoping). Still a great run.
Yes! God is always listening and always speaking… He is always with us.
Saturday was our last morning on the beach, so we got up at around 5 and did another nice and easy beach 5k while we watched the sun rise. Then it was back to reality with a 10 hour drive home.
I know that verses 34 and 35 in chapter 13 are quite well known, but those 2 stood out to me. It is a fairly straight forward and simple commandment. It’s not quite as simple to actually live it out. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” I wonder if those who see me and don’t even know me or talk to me can see the love that I have and know I am a follower of Christ. I kind of doubt that is always the case, but I hope people have seen my love and have known that, and I want to strive for that to be the case more often . . . Or more like always (Jesus didn’t necessarily say we can take days off).
I have seen this in your life, Sheldon. Your life has, in many ways, encouraged me to love Jesus more!
That was very interesting to read that passage with your thoughts in mind. I had never even considered that Judas or maybe some of the others hadn’t been part of the foot washing. Interesting perspective! I loved Jesus’ words on John 12:27-28 “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” I like how John shows Jesus steadfast in Hs mission. Many times He has mentioned that He is here to do the works His Father requires, and He fulfills each one of them.
We did a run on the biking path today (how I wish I would’ve signed on to BIKE my way thru 5K May!!). I did 3.17 in 31:38, pace of 9:59. I’m creeping along! Randy went a little past me, around 4 miles I believe.
Haha… Maybe we’ll have to find a month for a bike challenge!
That was very interesting to read that passage with your thoughts interesting mind. I had never even considered that Judas or maybe some of the others hadn’t been part of the foot washing. Interesting perspective! I loved Jesus’ words on John 12:27-28 “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” I like how John shows Jesus steadfast in Hs mission. Many times He has mentioned that He is here to do the works His Father requires, and He fulfills each one of them.
We did a run on the biking path today (how I wish I would’ve signed on to BIKE my way thru 5K May!!). I did 3.17 in 31:38, pace of 9:59. I’m creeping along! Randy went a little past me, around 4 miles I believe.
4 more miles in the hills of TN. Although a couple of these came on a local track close to the cabin.
I like the passion and commitment from Thomas when he says “hey let’s go die with Him”. And then I really liked how it says the rulers had it in for Lazarus because lots of people were believing in Jesus because of him. That’s twice in a couple chapters here that people who received miracles are the target of these rulers and both subjects seem happy enough to follow the One who healed them despite the persecution.
Thomas really blows me away in this chapter, too! “Doubting Thomas” wasn’t so doubting at this point, was he?!