John 13:7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
Jesus spoke these words during the last supper, after doing something that astonished his disciples.
…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.
Peter was confused. Why would Jesus take the position of a servant? Why would their Rabbi and Lord wash their feet?
“Lord, are you going to wash MY feet?” He asked.
It didn’t make any sense. He couldn’t stand the thought of his master doing the work of a slave. Why was Jesus doing this strange thing? This was just a normal meal together, after all.
We have to remember, the disciples didn’t refer to this meal as the “last supper”. They just thought it was supper.
But Jesus knew.
Jesus knew the future. He knew what it held. Verse 3 tells us He “knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God”. It was time for His return, and this was one of His last opportunities to show his disciples the servant heart of YHWH. Jesus knew the end of the story was nearing; he had known the end from the very beginning.
But Peter didn’t know the end of the story. He only understood the present. And even that understanding was dim.
That’s how it is with us.
How many times in our lives are we totally lost on what God is doing and how he is working? The words usually accompanying such times go something like this:
“I don’t understand, God.”
“Why did I not get that opportunity?”
“Why did this relationship not work out?”
Or the biggie: “WHERE ARE YOU, GOD?”
Be assured that God is always lovingly at work in your life. We are promised that He will never leave us alone. The bible speaks of His abiding in us, dining with us, living IN us. The very picture that Jesus portrayed for his disciples that day was of a God that lowers himself to come alongside and care for us.
He cares for you.
Whether the situation you find yourself in is of your own doing or someone else’s - God is working His plans out…
… to work everything for your good
… to rescue you
… to redeem your trial
… to heal your heart
… to restore what’s been stolen
… to set your feet on a rock
You may not understand what He is doing right now. You may not see His hand at work or His plans unfolding. But you can trust that there ARE plans. Plans to fix the mess. Plans to prosper you. Plans to give you hope, and a future. He will work things out.
You may not realize now what He is doing, but later you will understand.