Infinitum Lent JourneySample

Today we consider Jesus & Surrender in the context of Lent.

This is our second last day of Jesus & Surrender. We will try a new exercise today to encounter Jesus in the text. It is called One Word Wonder. Remember that we are gazing through the lens of Jesus & Surrender.

There is an old tradition in which we camp out on just one word or one verse during our spiritual rations. It’s been described as similar to eating a piece of food.

First, you take a bite. You pick a portion of today’s reading—usually just a verse—and read it. Read it several times. God will often highlight a word or phrase or you. Scribble down the word and other words that come to mind related to it.

“It was before Passover, and Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and to return to the Father. He had always loved his followers in this world, and he loved them to the very end.

Even before the evening meal started, the devil had made Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, decide to betray Jesus.

Jesus knew that he had come from God and would go back to God. He also knew that the Father had given him complete power. 4 So during the meal Jesus got up, removed his outer garment, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 He put some water into a large bowl. Then he began washing his disciples’ feet and drying them with the towel he was wearing.

But when he came to Simon Peter, that disciple asked, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus answered, “You don’t really know what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

“You will never wash my feet!” Peter replied.

“If I don’t wash you,” Jesus told him, “you don’t really belong to me.”

Peter said, “Lord, don’t wash just my feet. Wash my hands and my head.”

Jesus answered, “People who have bathed and are clean all over need to wash just their feet. And you, my disciples, are clean, except for one of you.” 11 Jesus knew who would betray him. That is why he said, “except for one of you.”

After Jesus had washed his disciples’ feet and had put his outer garment back on, he sat down again. Then he said:

Do you understand what I have done? You call me your teacher and Lord, and you should, because that is who I am. And if your Lord and teacher has washed your feet, you should do the same for each other. I have set the example, and you should do for each other exactly what I have done for you. I tell you for certain that servants are not greater than their master, and messengers are not greater than the one who sent them. You know these things, and God will bless you, if you do them.” (CEV)

Then you chew it. You ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you; you’re looking for revelation as to what God is saying in this word or phrase and what he is saying to you. You might find other verses with complementary perspectives on your word. You might get a fuller understanding of God’s heart.

Then you savor it. You pray this word or phrase over your current situation – your pressures, hurts, hopes, and sin—back to God. Our experience is translated through this word or phrase, and we can see it from God’s perspective.

Then you swallow it. You take your enhanced understanding of God and focus on him through the lens of this word or phrase and rest in his presence.

Then you digest it. Scribble or type a note to yourself about how you see this revelation applied to your life.