Yesterday in our Bible study today, we talked about a moment during Jesus' last meal with His disciples. Today, we will rewind and look at what happened just before this last meal. Specifically, we are going to look at what Jesus did before this meal. While some in Jesus' place would have demanded to be served because of who He was and what He was about to do, that was not the case. Although He certainly could have asked for praise and to be served, Jesus did something different. He spent His last moments with His disciples serving them so that they would understand what it looks like to serve.
John 13 tells us that as Jesus and His disciples gathered for a meal, Jesus did something that must have shocked His disciples. You see, in Jesus' day, people wore sandals. They also walked everywhere. As a result, their feet were filthy, and hired servants would wash the feet of people when they entered their homes. While this act was customary in Jesus' day, this is not what happened during the last moment. Instead of having a hired servant wash, Jesus shocked His disciples by becoming the servant who was usually hired. He knelt, poured water into a bowl, and started washing His disciples' feet. Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, protested at first, but ultimately, he agreed to let Jesus wash his feet. When Jesus was finished with His customary foot washing, He took a moment to teach His disciples. He said, "Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet" (verse 14). He continued explaining that He had done this act to set an example for them of what it looks like to serve others. He said to them, Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet" (verse 14). If Jesus took the time to wash feet, His disciples had no excuse.
The same thing is true for us that was true for Jesus' disciples. If our Lord and Savior willingly took the role of a servant, we, too, must follow His example. We must live a life dedicated to serving others. As we serve and love the people around us, we point them to God's extravagant love for them. This is the life of service that God calls us to. May we all have the same attitude of Jesus, who came to serve rather than be served and proved it through His actions (Matthew 20:28).
Who can you serve today? Think about the people whom God places in your life on a regular basis. How can you serve these people? Maybe you can help with something they have been needing help with. Maybe you can buy them a coffee or a meal. Maybe you can meet a practical need that they have. Whatever the case, choose today to be a servant and follow the example of Jesus.
1Before 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.
