George had a passion for telling others about Jesus. He organized a gospel crusade in his high school. In college, he recruited two of his friends to distribute the Bible in Mexico. George Verwer later founded the international ministry Operation Mobilization.
Successful though he was, Verwer was aware of mistakes he made. In his book Messiology, he wrote, “I believe history will show that God was doing way more in the midst of our messes than we realized at the time.”
Jesus said something to Peter on the evening of the Last Supper that would affirm Verwer’s contention. About to wash Peter’s feet, Christ said, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will” (John 13:7). Intriguingly, Peter’s “mess” hadn’t happened yet: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me” (v. 38). But it was a much bigger mess that Jesus was referring to: the sin of all mankind. The disciples didn’t know that God was doing something far greater than they realized.
In living for Jesus, we may find ourselves in our own “messiology.” Even in our best work, we make mistakes, mess things up, and fall into despair. But Jesus tells His disciples, “I AM the Messiah” (v. 19). That gives us real hope. We may not know what God is doing, but we should trust in who He is. He’s way more than what we understand.
-Kenneth Petersen
What in your life is hard to understand? How are God’s purposes confusing to you?
Dear God, please help me accept that Your ways are not always known to me.
6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you
going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing,
but someday you will.”
8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you,
you won’t belong to me.”
9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash
my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not
need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean.
And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.”
11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he
meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe
again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand
what I was doing?
13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are
right, because that’s what I am.
14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed
your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.
15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as
I have done to you.
16 I tell you the truth, slaves
are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger
more important than the one who sends the message.
17 Now that you know these things, God will
bless you for doing them.
18 “I am not saying these things to all of you;
I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture
that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’
19 I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you
will believe that I AM the Messiah.
20 I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger
is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming
the Father who sent me.”
Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
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