The Symbol of Our Rebellion

Aug 18 2023 - Eric Buresh

The Bible does not use this word in this context, but I think it is fair to say we are rebels in this world. We rebel against the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” We rebel against the continuing dominion of the flesh that formerly reigned over us. We rebel against the influences of the world that are at work against the influences of the Spirit in us. We are part of the rebellion! 

Every rebellion has its symbol (at least in the movies). The starbird symbol of the Rebel Alliance. The red roses of Les Misérables. The Wakandan salute in Black Panther. The blue face paint of the Scottish rebellion in Braveheart. The Mockingjay salute in Hunger Games. Symbols are important in rebellions both for identification and motivation.  

So, what is the symbol of our rebellion? Various answers come quickly to mind like the cross, the empty tomb, the Ichthys (fish symbol). Those are all amazing symbols, but non-believers often use them as well. I think Jesus articulated the only truly certain symbol of our rebellion: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35). Love is the definitive symbol of those that belong to our rebellion. 

Jesus sets the ultimate example of this symbol. At the very beginning of John 13, John writes, “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” (vs. 1) He loved us unto His own death. In the middle of the chapter, sandwiched between all this talk of love, we see the unexpected scene where the King of the universe stoops down and washes the disciples feet. After giving this acted out lesson, Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” (vs. 14-15) 

There is a ton of symbolism in the foot washing that is beyond today’s post, but I think we all appreciate that Jesus doesn’t have any particular concern that we all have clean feet. He’s telling us to go low for the good of one another. To sacrifice for one another. To place each other’s good above our own desires. He’s telling us to serve one another. Why the focus on serving in this passage that begins and ends with love? Because they go hand in hand. We love one another when we show a willingness to go low for the good and joy of another. To sacrifice for the good and joy of another. That is what love looks like – Jesus washing away sin by marching to His death for our good and our joy. 

We recently had a Connect Weekend at Grace where you could take five minutes and explore a bunch of ways to serve – to sacrifice for the good and joy of another; to love one another. I was thinking about how all those different serving options showed love to our body. Greeters, ushers, folks at the welcome desk, Grace kids teachers and leaders, the praise leaders, our hosts, our pastors, our facilities team, all the many invisible faces that keep everything running, ministry leaders, and the list goes on and on. I am so proud of our body. There are so many acts of service going on every day and every week and they are all evidence of love. While there is always room (and need) for more, the symbol of our rebellion is everywhere at Grace. The rebellion is strong in our midst. Thanks be to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forevermore.