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“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” John 13:1 (ESV)

Nothing sweeter than spending quality time with my besties.  Despite several delayed attempts for us to steal some time away for the beach, Fall  2021 didn’t disappoint.  Great weather, awesome friends – what more could a girl ask for?

The gift of friendship is a treasured jewel – in a world full of tweets, posts and less face to face interactions, we long for conversations and meals gathered around the table. Laughter filling the air.  Silence at just the right moments.  And the wisdom to know what to say and how to say it.  Chatting into the late hours of the morning.  Shopping until we drop exhausted.  Doing life together never felt better.

Your tribe, peeps, besties – whatever you call those you allow to draw close to your inner circle – it’s a trusted space reserved for those who love us to the end.

Jesus’ tribe of 12  – His inner circle – was comprised of doubters, tax collectors, fishermen, etc.  Ordinary men who left it all behind to follow Him.  Jesus knew them intimately, taught them, laughed with them and walked countless miles down dusty roads with His twelve.   Wouldn’t you have loved to hear some of those conversations as they gathered around a cozy fire? Three years full of miracles, lessons and closeness with the very Son of God.

John 13 unveils the riveting truth, Jesus’ time on earth was coming to a close.  His purpose would take on new heights as He suffered and died for our sins.  Betrayed by one of His closest and abandoned by all in his darkest hour.  Yet two pivotal words were nestled in these verses – Jesus knew.  Yes, He knew the clock was ticking and His days were fleeting on this earth.  Yes, He knew the one (Judas) who would sell Him out and the fleeing sandaled feet of His tribe scattering in fear when He needed them the most.

Jesus knew yet He lavishly laid aside His garments, lowered Himself, took a towel and washed the feet of His tribe.  A tender moment confusing to those whose dirty feet were touched and cleansed.  A final lesson in servanthood:

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater that his master nor is he who is sent greater that his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him,  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” John 13:14-17

Sweet friends, we are blessed indeed if we follow Jesus’ example – knowing, yet loving and serving until the very end.

“Father, the ultimate expression of Your love for this world culminated on the cross. Your sacrificial love compels us to do the same – give our all for the sake of others.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t pause in awe when seeing a butterfly. The variations of color and wing size make each creature uniquely marvelous. But what’s even more amazing, is the metamorphic process by which the butterfly emerges as itself.

A caterpillar wraps itself in a silk cocoon (chrysalis), during which time its old body is being broken down, dying to itself. An entirely new body is formed—a process called holometabolism. That’s not where it ends though! The butterfly has to break out of the protective shell it created, escaping the walls that would eventually kill it. But it is this part of the transformation that strengthens its wings, so when freed, it can boldly take flight.

Friend, this is our story in Christ! At the moment of surrender to Jesus—salvation—we are made new creatures! By grace through faith, our spiritual self goes from worm to butterfly. The problem, however, is that we are still in our old body. Our physical holometabolism has yet to happen. We are spiritually redeemed, but until we see Jesus face to face, we are cocooned in this earthly, sinful body living in a fallen, broken world. This, as the Apostle Paul writes often, creates a constant battle between new and old man—between flesh and spirit.

But just like the butterfly strengthens its new body as it works to be completely free of its cocoon, we can—must—strengthen our spiritual self as we walk through this world. We must “work out our salvation” (Philippians 2:12) by daily taking off the former “wormy” exterior and putting on the beautiful colors of Christlikeness. Although it won’t be complete on this earth, this external transformation can be quite remarkable and awe-inspiring.

So, how does this external process of becoming more like Christ happen for believers? We must be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2), setting our minds on the things above (Colossians 3:2). What is the source for this? God’s Word! We become like Jesus by knowing Him and His character. And we get to know Him through His Word—the Bible.

I imagine that once the caterpillar has been changed into a butterfly, with brilliantly colored wings designed to soar, its sole preoccupation is to tear down its constraining cocoon. Likewise, we have to be preoccupied with Christ: fixing our eyes on him; tearing down and starving out that which is sinful (Colossians 3:5-8); and building up that which is True and Beautiful (Galatians 5:22-23; Philippians 4:8).

Friend, becoming a Christian does transform us spiritually from worm to butterfly. But we will live a cocooned life until our body is glorified. Until that time, as we daily remove the layers of what keeps us trapped, we can reveal our colors to a dark world, demonstrating what we were truly all meant to be.

“Lord, I am a new creation in You. Help me walk out that spiritual reality as I make my way Home through this world.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life