out of the ordinary | the landscape

God frequently works through the ordinary. Through them he shares something of his love for us and reveals elements of his redemption plan. In this devotional series we look at some of the ordinary things Jesus would have encountered as he journeyed towards the cross. This week we're starting to look at elements of the landscape. Including dust! Holy Spirit, will you reveal something extraordinary through each of them. Amen.

The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:2-5, NIV

Jesus walked miles in sandals. At the end of each day his feet would have been filthy with dust; no wonder foot washing was so much an important and meaningful ritual in his day! I wonder if all the dust ever made him reflect on humanity's origins.

The first human was a genderless being, made from dust. The human (Ha’adam) carried the breath of God in its body and, later, when God separated ha’adam into man (ish) and woman (ish-shah) each half was equally sustained by his breath. And the Lord still gives life to every human being; we have his breath in our nostrils. In fact, Job tells us without the Father’s breath all of us would return to dust.

I find this incredibly sobering. I am only alive because God chooses to give me breath. And that realisation causes me to worship my life-giver. Whatever the circumstances, challenges, disappointments, frustrations, joys, celebrations, moments of overcoming I am thankful. But more than that, I’m in awe that the one who sustains me with his breath but would wash my feet without hesitation.

Let's pray
Today our prayer is an old, old hymn: Breathe on me, breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love the way you love, and do what you would do. Breathe on me, breath of God, until my heart is pure, until my will is one with yours, to do and to endure. Breathe on me, breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with you the perfect life for all eternity. Amen. 

Edwin Hatch (1878)