Prep Work Is Key

Preparation is key to so many things we do. I have learned on our construction mission trips that when you start to hang sheet rock on a wall or ceiling, you must prepare the layout and think through the best way to run the sheets. Otherwise, you will end up with a mess before it’s over.

Or, in my sports days I learned how important it was to prepare by knowing who we were going to play and determining their strengths and weaknesses.

Or, in my preaching, the preparation determines so much of the effectiveness of a message. Is my heart right before the Lord? What is God’s Word saying in this passage? And, what is God saying to us at this time through this passage? All of these questions must be answered in the preparation time if the preaching time is going to be of much value.

When Jesus was planning to eat this last meal with His disciples, there was some preparation that needed to take place. The food and the room needed to be prepared. Jesus handled that by sending some disciples to make the preparations that He had already set up.

But, even more important than the food and room prep was the preparation of the hearts of the apostles. Jesus humbled Himself and washed the feet of the men following Him. To wash their feet before a meal was the custom of the day since the lounging at the table would place their feet in close proximity to others and even the food.

But, it was not customary for the most important person in the room to do the task. Jesus modeled the heart of a servant by donning the towel and using the basin and pitcher to clean the dirty, nasty feet of the men who had been walking in the dirt all day.

But, even in His washing feet, He was also doing a work in hearts. Peter refused to have Jesus stoop so low as to wash his feet. Yet, Jesus informed Peter that if Peter will not allow it then he would have no part of Jesus. Then, Peter goes to the other extreme.

“Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Do more. I need a shower. I’m dirty all over. But, Jesus corrects Peter again and says that those who have “bathed” need only to have their feet washed.

Jesus was teaching a heart lesson here. For those who have been cleansed through the blood of Jesus and have had their whole lives washed cleaned and forgiven, we must keep ourselves clean by washing off the muck of the sin we have walked in today. Our hearts are clean, but we have engaged in a dirty world. So, our feet must be washed again.

These preparations get us ready to encounter God in a changing way. Will you prepare your heart to meet with Jesus?

(Questions/Responses? jeff.perkins@mbclife.org)