The heavy rains meant that the safer choice was to stay on the grounds of a seminary campus here in Guatemala City for the night. Tomorrow we will finish our journey to San Lucas Toliman along a twisting mountain pass. I can tell the team is eager and even excited to get to our home base for the week and to serve. But it was a good stop. Maybe even a needed stop.
Tonight we circled up on the grass, surrounded by tropical flowers and a “cotton candy colored sky” as one student put it, and considered Jesus’ journey to the cross. He too made a stop. He too circled up his disciples to make sure that they ready for what was to come. I am curious that there in Jerusalem, just days before Jesus would give his life so that we could find life in him, his disciples would be arguing over who is the greatest. What a juxtaposition. The Lord of the universe ready to surrender, to lay down his life, to take the role of a servant, and his disciples were arguing over who his number one follower was. In the midst of this, Jesus grabbed a basin and a towel and began washing their feet. Let's say that again! Jesus washed their feet!
Tonight we stopped and washed each other's feet. To be honest it was awkward, and vulnerable, and humbling, and jarring, and GOOD. It was good to feel the story that we so often read and gloss over. It was good to be reminded that there is a bigger backdrop to our lives than we often see. That our God gave of himself and laid down his life while we were busy looking at ourselves instead of others. Instead of at him!
Philippians 2 encourages us to have a new mindset. To share Jesus’ mindset. To join Jesus on his journey. You should read it (Philippians 2:1-11). Does this describe your life? Does this describe your attitude? I’ll be honest, sometimes I’m more like an arguing disciple than a humble servant. I’m glad Jesus still washed my feet.
More tomorrow,
The Guatemala Team
