If You Know These Things Happy Are You

“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

You will notice that I used the word “happy” in my title for this article. “Happy” comes from the KJV translation, but all other translations use “blessed.” My title is incomplete because the complete verse links our happiness or being blessed to a condition. The condition is “if you do them.” What are the things then that Jesus is referring to?

These words of our Lord are said in the context of washing the disciples’ feet. The very act of their Master and Lord disrobing himself to wash their feet was a shock to the disciples. Peter plainly refused to let Jesus wash his feet until Jesus told him that if he didn’t wash his feet, then Peter had nothing to do with the Lord (vv. 6-9). Peter, of course, then asked that Jesus wash also his hands and head. Peter did not understand the humility of Jesus. He needed to learn that the way of the Cross was a pathway of submission for the Lord.

Foot washing was usually done by the servant in the house. When a person came home his feet were dusty from walking; so upon entering a home, a servant would wash his feet. Someone should have washed feet when Jesus and the disciples came into the upper room, but no disciple is thinking of acting like a servant. No disciple is thinking of being humble. No disciple is thinking of taking the low place. All of the disciples should have been scurrying to wash Jesus’ feet, but none of them gave it a thought. We know that they were all occupied with thoughts of grandeur themselves (Matt. 18:1-5; Mark 8:33-37; Luke 9:46-48).

Human nature always seeks the first place. False pride always seeks the first place, but hides it under seeming willingness. So, true humility is not an easy thing. Humility is perfectly natural, however, for our Lord Jesus Christ. He humbled himself (Phil. 2:5-8). His entire life was a life of service bathed in humility.

Most of our actions are bathed in ambition. Jesus taught his disciples about the ambitions of the Gentiles and rulers of men (Matt.20:25). They lord it over men, but it was not to be so among the disciples. If a disciple wanted to be first he had to be last of all. Jesus said these words in the context of James and John seeking thrones for themselves on either side of Jesus (Mark 10:35-45). The other disciples were angry with James and John, but only because they hadn’t thought of it themselves. Jesus told his disciples that they were not to seek prominence or greatness. They were to be like him, who, as the Son of Man, came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

How slow the disciples are to learn this lesson. They do not think of washing Jesus’ feet. In fact, they each probably believed that one of the other disciples should have washed their feet and Jesus’ feet, but none of them volunteer. They think of themselves. The disciples are very much aware of the practice of society. They live under arrogant Roman rule. They live under their own Jewish culture with the imposition of the Mosaic Law through the teaching of the Pharisees. The Jewish leadership certainly considered themselves above ordinary people (see John 9:26-34). In fact, the Pharisees saw themselves in the light of class distinctions, something we still do when we look at others (Luke 18:11).

We all like to think that we are superior in some way or other. This is the consequence of sin. It seeks self-ascendency. Washing someone else’s feet has not even entered the disciples’ minds. If anything, someone should wash their feet. So when Jesus their Lord stoops down to wash their feet, they are shocked. They would never have expected Jesus to do such a thing. But our Lord is the Servant of the Lord. He came to serve. It is this very truth about Jesus that is supposed to govern our actions. Jesus says in verse 14: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” So it is incumbent upon every disciple to take the lowliest place. We are to regard ourselves as the lowest. We most certainly are not in the same position as our Lord. We are not greater than our Master, therefore we ought to serve one another (vs. 16).

Now intellectual assent to this truth about serving others is not enough. We are not happy simply because we know the truth. In fact, in this lesson by Jesus, we are not happy at all unless we do what he does and says. This is a very important principle. Jesus is not saying that we should do something that we think is necessary, but rather we are to do what he says and has done. We always like to rationalize our actions and behavior. We always seek to protect ourselves from criticism. Jesus does not ask us to rationalize anything. Rather, we are to do what he says. We are only happy if we do what he has said.

Another important principle is that no amount of psychological analysis of human nature excuses us from our responsibility. We cannot say “I don’t feel like it,” or “I am not qualified or gifted enough,” or “someone else is much better than I am,” or “my emotional state is troubled so I cannot do it.” No disciple is to excuse another disciple. Most of us don’t think like this. We make excuses on behalf of others because perhaps they are weaker or more stressed out or less capable. Every disciple is accountable and no amount of excuse made on her behalf absolves her of her accountability or responsibility. Rather what happens when we excuse others is that we open the door for a weaker or lower standard for others, and this is something we must never do. Our own responsibility is to humble ourselves and look to the interests of others (Phil 2:4, 5). The standard is always what Jesus did and it applies to every disciples. We are most certainly to help and serve one another, but never to make excuses for what Jesus has said to all of us. True happiness comes from doing what Jesus says. If we love Jesus, we will keep his commands (John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10). If we keep the words of Jesus, we will love one another. If we love our Lord, we will love one another.

Another important principle is that happiness is connected to service. Service done out of a sense of duty alone is not true service. Service must operate from the foundation of genuine love and humility. The entire essence of servanthood is humility. We do not serve for ourselves. The one thing required of as servant is faithfulness (1 Cor. 4:2), not fruitfulness (though we seek to be fruitful and to see fruit for our labor).

Genuine biblical joy seems to have vanished from the Christian church. Christians are unhappy. More people are on medication than ever before, and more people are unhappy than ever before. In your unhappiness where is the work of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit gives joy. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Paul encourages us to rejoice in the Lord (Phil. 3:1; 4:4), which surely will help us rejoice in our sufferings (Rom. 5:3).

How happy are you? The test is quite simple. Jesus says “happy are you if you do the things I tell you.” I cannot imagine a Christian as an unhappy person. If you are unhappy there is a reason and the root of the problem is usually of a spiritual nature. There is happiness through humility, happiness through willing obedience and happiness through service. Oh, to be so happy!