I often point out how in Jesus’ teaching of God’s vision, ‘the first will be last, and the last will be first.’ This reversal of values is foundational to the ‘realm of God’ Jesus invited us to participate in, and many of Jesus’ stories and action demonstrate this reversal. The scene where Jesus, the leader of his group of followers, gets on his knees and washes his disciples’ feet is a case in point. Jesus goes on to explain that he washed their feet to be an example. As their leader and teacher, he laid aside his position and took last place, which is what we too are to do. Jesus asks us to look at the places in our lives where we are at or near the front of the line, and then to give up our position to another, relinquishing our status.
Jesus provides another example in this weeks’ lectionary gospel about Jairus and the bleeding woman. Jesus is first approached by a powerful man—someone with tremendous status in his culture, a high-ranking official… {Read remainder of column on Patheos HERE.}
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