All People Will Know (John 13:1-20, 35 especially vs 9 ESV)

 

Has anyone ever washed your feet?  No doubt your parents may have when you were a baby but I mean in your more grown up state.  To be literal, I mean foot washing like what Jesus did.

I don't recall anyone ever washing mine.  It would feel weird to me, I think.  Especially since I can't stand anyone messing with my feet, unless of course, it's for reflexology.

Once upon a time at a gathering of sisters who had created a sort of indoor fun fair there was such opportunity.  There was a table for nail polishing, a photo booth with dress-up props, and more.  Among the stations that seemed to be rather popular, was the reflexology corner.

It was quite an experience to be the 'reflexologist'-of-the day.  I hadn't had any formal training at all.  I was just copying what I'd had done for me by professionals.

This was just 'for fun' but the reactions of the ladies who came for their foot rub was so touching.  There was actually someone who would touch their feet that were in whatever state they were at the time!  They were touched in their hearts by it.  It turned out to be quite one of the best times.  The ladies had good chats, not gossipy ones but that which showed genuine camaraderie.

It could have been a time to pray for the one having their foot rub respectively but I'd lost the opportunity to 'wash their feet' in this way.  It is a regret from that time.  Hopefully, just the actions helped some one of them towards the Lord anyway.

So I think Simon Peter felt it was weird to have Jesus wash his and the other disciples' feet.  I really get a kick out of what he says.  It always makes me laugh.

"Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head" (John 13:9 ESV).

Peter had likely missed the point but I wonder if Jesus smiled in amusement.  But He did graciously reply.  Actually it was a very serious moment as there was a traitor in their midst.  Yet Jesus had washed all of the twelve's feet.  

I believe there are ways to wash peoples' feet even if it is not in the literal sense.  To show hospitality to someone in need, to lend a helping hand here and there to fill in a gap and so on.  No doubt you can think of countless ways and not expecting return favors.

When we show our humility, profound care and love for others, we are doing as Jesus would do.  Jesus, our Master and Lord, set our example of "true fasting" and Christian living (see Isaiah 58:6-11). Let's treat one another similarly so that

"by this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" said Jesus (John 13:35 ESV).

Let's do so in Jesus' name.

                                                ~  ERC  October 2025  ~

Based on John 13:1-20, 35 and especially vs 9 ESV. 

Sing, A New Commandment, along with Chet Valley Churches.

Book Review - From A to Y Vietnamese - By Amy Dang - Publication Date: 20 November 2025

 In my opinion this multicultural interest, children's book is aimed at young children and those wishing to learn some Vietnamese.  This book features simple sentences, and various words of vocabulary per letter of their alphabet.  Words are given in both Vietnamese and English accompanied by cute little illustrations.  A glossary of Vietnamese words used in this book appears at book's end.  I didn't find it all that interesting but it may have some appeal for very young children.

                                          ~  Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger  ~

                                                       November 2025

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.

HAIKU - Follow and Serve (John 12:20-50 ESV)

 

Belief in Jesus

Is belief in God, who sent

Him.  Servant of Christ

Walk while you have

the Light.  Die to self like a

grain of wheat in ground.

Now, follow Master

Jesus.  Where Master is so

is servant.  Serve Him.

 

Heavenly Father, we look up to you believing in You through Your son Jesus.  May we now faithfully follow our Master Jesus as His servant and serve Him well.  In Him we have eternal life.  We believe Him because He is telling us what You told Him in the first place.  We know we can trust His words too.  Help us to die in the ground, so to speak, like a grain of wheat that needs to die to live and flourish.  Lead, guide, direct and convict us through Your Holy Spirit.  May we then follow Jesus and serve Him well.  We ask in Jesus our Master's name.  Amen.

                                              ~  ERC  October 2025  ~

Based on John 12:20-50, especially vs. 44, 36, and 26 ESV.

Sing, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, along with Phil Wickham.

Lord's Day Devotion - HAIKU - I Am He ( John 18 ESV)

 

Father God, through Jesus we have the words and action of love and eternal life.

 

"Whom do you seek?"  He

asked. "Jesus of Nazareth,"

was their reply.  Oh!

"I am He."  Power-

-ful words.  Backwards they fall to

the ground.  "I am He."

Angry, jealous men,

seeking Jesus.  Not in faith.

Full of malice.  Hate.

Slice!  Servant's ear cut

off.  Peter's sword defending.

"Put it away."  NOW.

Jesus, the I am,

must drink the cup His Father

gave Him.  Guiltless one.

"No fault in Him," said

Pilate.  Choice.  Choose Jesus or the

robber.  "Not this man."

Barabbas, sinful.

Jesus the sinless King of

the Jews.  "The I AM."

What is truth?  Whom do

you seek?  Now is the time to

choose, Jesus only.

Thank You Jesus for who you are, our selfless, sinless Savior.  We remember You this Lord's Day in the breaking of bread and the drinking of the cup.  Thank You for Your sacrifice.  Amen.

                                                     ~ ERC  November 2025 ~

Based on John 18 ESV.

Sing, How Deep the Father's Love For Us, along with Hadleigh Baptist Church.

HAIKU - The Donkey Ride (John 12:12-19 ESV)

 

On a young donkey

Into Jerusalem did

Jesus ride.  Hee-haw.

The people brayed, "Ho -

-sanna.  Blessed be Jesus, 

...the King of Israel."

Their King was coming

In the name of the Lord, "Fear

not."  Glorious day.

Daughter of Zion

Rejoice.  Be glad.  Jesus comes.

Bray, "hearts full of praise."

Palm branches wilted. 

"Crucify Him," by week's end

was heard.  Somber day.

Jesus glorified,

Disciples remember His

words from donkey ride.

~  ERC  October 2025  ~

Based on John 12:12-19 ESV.

Sing, Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest, along with Chet Valley Church, and There Once Was a Wild Little Donkey, along with  Bible Truth Publishers.

Resurrection and Life (John 11:1-27 esp vs 25 ESV)

 

Jesus was so many things, or should we say, 'I am's'.  He plainly said, "I am the bread of life," "I am the light of the world," "I am the door of the sheep," and "I am the good shepherd" (John 6:35; 8:12; 10:7, 9, 11 and 14).  Here in John 11 it's recorded that He states,

 "I am the resurrection and the life" (vs 25).  

Jesus was the embodiment of all those analogies.  If one mediates on each aspect of Jesus' "I am's" one will gain a greater picture of who He is and His life's purpose  on earth.  And further to these listed, if one continues to read through the book of John one will discover other "I am's."

For now, let's look at Jesus being the "resurrection and the life."  It is such a moving scene as we read John 11:1-27.  Our tears can actually join Mary, Martha and Jesus'.  They wept and mourned their loss.  The sisters knew they'd see Lazarus of Bethany again, "at the resurrection" - that great day sometime in the future that felt distant.

It was some comfort for them.  But the 'here and now' was almost unbearable.  On top of that they'd notified Jesus when Lazarus was so sick.  But He hadn't shown up.

What was that all about?  They had been so close!  He wasn't that far away.  They knew He could have done something about it but He hadn't.

"Lord, he whom you love is ill." (v.3). 

was the urgent message they sent to Him.

And Martha said,

"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died ..." (vs 21).

When Mary meets Jesus she says the same thing - having fallen at His feet in such sorrow and perhaps hurt, and trying desparately to understand WHY?  Why hadn't  He come sooner?!  Why only come now when it was seemingly too late.

Jesus being the resurrection and life had a more momentus part of His identity to reveal.  I believe it was also to emphasize even all down throughout the ages since then, to us today, that there really and truly is such a thing as resurrection and people can and do come back to life in His good timing.

And so Jesus commanded in a loud voice,

 "Lazarus, come out" (vs 43).

What joy must have ensued.  Perhaps then, there were tears of happiness.  

Resurrection.

Life.

Let us not lose these two "I am's" about Jesus in the joy of having the healing and/or the resuccitation earthly doctors and their machines can give and through the prayers of righteous men.  Let's remember it is the power of Jesus Christ because He is the resurreciton and the life.

We do look forward still to that great day when we hear the call from Jesus to go up to be with Him forever with that everlasting life only He can give.  We will meet those who were

 "dead in Christ" again. 

 We will be ... 

"Caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air ..."                   (see 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 ESV).

Despite our grief and loss of loved ones, we can still look forward to this day because Jesus is our Resurrection and Life.  It is comforting.  

It is encouraging.

                                                   ~ ERC  October 2025 ~

Based on John 11:1-27 especially vs 25 ESV.

Sing, Soon and Very Soon, along with Andrae Crouch. and Christ Our Hope in Life and Death, along with Keith and Kristyn Getty.

                

Many Believe In Him (John 10:40-42 ESV)

 

That's it!  That's what you have to do!  You have to ascertain if whatever is said about Jesus is true or not.

Look at who the messenger is.  Is he reliable, a person of integrity?   Someone like what preacher and evangelist Billy Graham had been.  But the messenger doesn't even have to be of such worldwide reknown, it could be the quiet brother or sister-in-Christ who is almost invisible to others.  Even so, whomever the messenger, prove their words.  The many who came to see Jesus in that place by the Jordan River where John the Baptizer had been baptizing repentant people, came to believe.  Why so?  Because they respected John the Baptizer, so they trusted John the Baptizer's words.  Nevertheless they did check it out for themselves.  This is known as noble character.

Their conclusion was,

"...everything John said about this man was true."

That caused many of them to believe in Jesus right then and there.

Some of the things we know that John the Baptizer said about Jesus is that

 "He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).  

He also said Jesus was greater than him and that he wasn't even worthy to unlatch Jesus' sandals.

In those days, the servants' servant would be the one to wash peoples' feet and deal with their footwear.  These people believed John the Baptizer to be great.  Yet John the Baptizer put himself in a position as a very lowly, lowly servant (according to the society's perspective of those times).  Therefore, how ever more shocking the contrast in superiority Jesus was placed by John the Baptizer for the throngs who came to him and heard his words.

Actually John the Baptizer didn't place Jesus there,  Jesus was already superior.  However, I state it this way as I believe it would be how the general populace of those times would have been able to relate and view Jesus' position of great importance - a VVIP.

And these people were as noble as the Bereans of Paul's acquaintance (see Acts 17:11).  The Bereans had been described as being "noble" because they searched the Scriptures to see if what Paul was saying about Jesus, was true.

Truth seekers were some of the people who had come to see Jesus out there by the Jordan River.  They too wanted to check it out for themselves.

So I hope that nowadays, we too, will search the Scriptures to see, learn, know understand and accept that everything said about Jesus, based on Scripture, is true.  May many then believe in Him wherever they are in this world.

Amen.

                                             ~  ERC  October 2025  ~

Based on John 10:40-42 ESV.

Sing, I Believe In Jesus, along with Keith Matthew.