How easy is it for us to forget God? How easy is it for us to forget Jesus? How easy is it for us to forget who He is, the glory He has shown and the glory that He is? God’s Spirit has been challenging my heart with this thought, so stick with me here!

I am reminded of a scene in a show called Ted Lasso. Ted, the coach, pulls a player (Sam) to the sideline because Sam missed the play, and his teammates are busting his chops about it. As the scene unfolds you can tell that Sam is just in his head beating himself up. Sam hits the ground with his fist and yells some not so very “Christian” words. As you see the frustration build, Ted decides to step in. Ted calls Sam over and says, “What’s the happiest animal on earth, Sam?”

Sam looks super confused and Ted says, “A goldfish. It has a 10-second memory. Be a goldfish Sam.” Sam just looks confused and reluctantly runs back on the field.

It is a super interesting scene to me because I watched it and I thought of it in a completely unusual way. How easy is it for us to be a goldfish when it comes to Jesus?

How easy is it for us to have a 10-second memory when we exit church? Consider the fact that we just had an amazing message and worship service. After the closing prayer or benediction, am I thinking about the message? Am I meditating on it? Am I thinking about how that word cut deep into me and showed me where I am really at in Christ? Or am I thinking about my busy day that is planned? Am I cussing under my breath about the person who didn’t let me out of the church parking lot? Am I displaying Christ as a cheerful giver when I go to Sunday lunch and leave a $1 tip on a $50 meal? Did I leave a bigger mess than a tip, refusing to be thankful for the very service the waitstaff provided?

I know that sounds harsh, but I am just being real with you. I think if we are being honest, we all have one or more moments where we were not letting Jesus be Lord of our life. We get so wrapped up in ourselves that we forget Jesus said to deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow Him.

We read in John chapter 13 where Jesus (God in the flesh) got on His knees and washed His Disciples’ feet, including the same Disciple’s feet that belong to the one who is about to betray Him. The same Disciples who have been following Him the last three years and have no clue what’s going on. We see in yesterday and today’s verses where He pours out His heart and tells them He is going to Heaven to prepare a place for them. Thomas says, “Lord we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” And Philip says, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”

Jesus responds to Thomas and says I am the way, the truth and the life. He responds to Philip and says, “Have I been with you so long, and you still don’t know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”

Later, we see Jesus praying, crying and sweating blood from what is about to happen. He comes back to where He left his Disciples and they have fallen asleep.

Further in the book of John, we see Peter deny him three times. Jesus knows all of this is going to transpire and yet he still humbles himself to wash the feet of these traitors and thieves. He knows all the sins and atrocities we will all commit in the future against him and one another. Yet, he still forgives and goes to the cross.

That is who Jesus is. That is who God is. The Master and Creator of everything we see and do not see. He humbled himself to show us that He is the way. That He is the truth. That He is the life. He shows us his Glory by loving us regardless of all the horrible things we will do and speak.

He shows us what no other religion or deity shows. He shows forgiveness. He shows us grace. He shows us the glory of who He is and the lengths He will go through to show how much He loves us. Even when we mess up and forget Him. Even when we have been “walking” with Him more than three years and forget the very basics He has taught us. He shows us who He is.

Consider the one person who hurt you the most. Can you wash their feet? Can you forgive them like Jesus and God forgave us? To the person who just cut you off in traffic. Instead of racing to cut them off, could you wash their feet? The spouse who betrayed you — could you wash their feet? The person who has a different political view than you — could you wash their feet? The person who argues with you on Facebook — could you wash their feet?

Can you humble yourself and forgive? Can you take that pain, that cross, and deny your right to justice and forgive them? Can you show them the glory of God?

Remember — Jesus did. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life — Jesus is our glory.