The Beauty of Jesus - Part Two - "Stop and Stoop"

The Beauty of Jesus - Part Two – Stop and Stoop

I have been unable to find the exact publication date for Andrew Murray’s Like Christ. But, because we know Murray’s life bridged the late 19th and early 20th century, and that he wrote from South Africa, he certainly wrote from a different world view than anyone reading this article. We are able to fly from coast to coast, access instant information, and multitask continuously. Murray rode trains and horses and drove cars over roads primitive by today’s Interstate standards. Radio was in its infancy at the end of Murray’s life, television was still an idea, and “Skype” was material for science fiction writers.

Part of the value of reading Murray’s works is that readers must slow down to understand quaint language and muse over what appears to us as primitive Christianity. The contemporary Christian world tends to celebrate star power personalities, measure success with business model values, and wink at contradictions between Jesus’ servant model for His followers and the lifestyles of favorite authors and experts on things religious. The “Wow factor” is marketed by merchants in the temple courts and sought by zealous, well-intentioned organizers of religious events. Jesus’ example is to stop and stoop!

Andrew Murray’s text for the chapter titled, “He Himself calls us to it,” is John 13:15, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” You may read Murray’s applications on line, free. A PDF copy of Like Christ is posted at http://www.jesus.org.uk/vault/library/murray_like_christ.pdf. I hesitate to add anything to Murray’s work, but go forward anyway.

Jesus’ foot washing was not ceremonial, in a public arena with religious trappings, but a practical task usually performed by a servant. It may be wise to conduct a personal inventory on how we serve. Are we following Jesus’ example? That is the reason Jesus stopped and stooped to bathe feet, so we would have His example.

And, Jesus served those whom he knew best, practically doing what was needed, and in this way drew attention to His nature and underlined His expectations for His Kingdom. In an era of ever-expanding religious properties and programs housing complex organizations offering smorgasbords of goods and services, it may be wise to step back and ask, “How much of this did Jesus have in mind when He called out, ‘Follow me?’” Would complex systems for distributions of goods and services be needed if each of Jesus’ disciples would simply stop frenzied activity and stoop to serve practically, simply?