john 13 -- reflection on shame

hey all,

not sure quite what the format is... but i studied ahead for next semester and have been meditating on john chapter 13 (jesus washing the disciples' feet)

the big thing i'm realizing is that.. yes.. jesus is committing the ultimate act of humility... BUT.. there's also a strong aspect of counter-cultural discomfort on peter's part... by allowing his rabbi and Lord to wash his feet. peter's response is, what i think, our response should be when it comes to means of receiving grace... MINE! at the same time... peter's willingness to be cross-cultural and to experience the shame of allowing his rabbi to wash his feet... is something we need to aspire to, as well. (i really think part of the disciples' reaction against jesus washing their feet was the stigma and idea of an elder and teacher doing the work of a servant for them and how socially reprehensible that was. imagine if our parents volunteered to wash our cars or came to our apartments/dorm rooms and cleaned our bathrooms and took out our trash)

i've shared with some of you before about how i hate being 'that' christian -- the one people run away from, the one people roll their eyes to because they know he's going to give a cliche holy answer. but how much shame am i willing to bear on behalf of the cross, on behalf of my faith? am i willling to be 'that' christian among my non-christian friends? yes.. jesus christ bore our shame.. and in him we stand unashamed before our heavenly father.. but i think part of serving jesus in this life involves bearing the earth's shame with joy and gladness.

this isn't to say i don't believe in showing love before judgment... or that i don't believe in properly communicating the gospel in strategic ways. but i think i far too often as a shame-based, wanting-to-be-accepted, not wanting to be the stereotypical fundamentalist bible banger 21st century asian american err way too far on the non-confrontational. why not the truthful, loving, counter-cultural, and downright self-shaming expression of the gospel in order to receive and share christ's grace and love?