Did you know that there are over 400 years between the Old and the New Testaments? In those 400 years, God did not speak through prophets or give special instructions to the Jewish people. Instead, those 400 years were characterized by silence. For those 400 years, the Jewish people waited for the promised Messiah who would come and rescue them. They expected Him to come as a king. They were expecting a warrior. Instead, Jesus came humbly as a servant.
As Jesus neared the end of His life on earth, He was preparing for the Passover. The Passover was a celebration that Jews celebrated to remember How God had freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. This celebration included a meal with specific foods and spices that all carried significant meaning. It pointed the Jewish people back to the day God rescued them from slavery in Egypt. As Jesus and His disciples sat down for a meal, Jesus did something shocking. He got up from the table and began washing His disciples' feet. Foot washing is not a part of our regular routine before we eat a meal or enter a house, but in Jesus' day, it was necessary. You see, people walked to most places (there were no cars) while wearing sandals. Because of this, people's feet would get very dirty. As a result, a hired servant was often asked to wash the feet of any house guests who arrived. This was not the case as Jesus prepared to celebrate the Passover with His disciples. Instead of having a hired servant, Jesus became a servant and began washing feet. He did this because He loved them and wanted them to learn from His example (John 13:1). After washing their feet, Jesus explained that if He did not consider Himself to be too good to wash feet, His disciples were not too good to be in the foot-washing business either. They were not too good to serve other people (John 13:14). If Jesus lived a life of service and sacrifice, they should follow His example.
What was true for Jesus' disciples in John 14 is true for us today. As His followers, we are called to dedicate our lives to serving others. The question is, will we obey? What about you? Will you commit to living a lifestyle of service? What can you do today to take on the role of a servant and serve other people around you?
How can you follow Jesus' example and serve others today? Maybe you can take a meal to someone who is going through a difficult time. Maybe you can sign up to serve here at Sagebrush. (Go to sagebrush.church/serve to do this). Whatever you decide, take steps today to follow Jesus' example of serving those around you.
1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
