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.[a] 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas,[b] 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,[c] 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.
-John 13:1-17 (New Living Translation)
One aspect of the ministry of Jesus that I think we, as His followers, are missing is that of being a servant. No where, that I can find, is this idea more prevalent than in John 13.
Here is Jesus, the Son of God, washing the feet of His disciples. Imagine that. The all powerful, Creator, washing the feet of His creation. What you and I need to take away from this is found in verses 13-15, "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.'" Jesus is giving us an example to follow. I'm not telling you to go and wash the feet of the people who attend church on Sunday. But, what I am telling you is that this example teaches us to serve, rather than dominate. Everyone wants to be in charge of something, but it's better to serve along with others, than to lead yourself. Look at verse 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." We are all the same, each and every one of us. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. A teacher is not greater than a student. A pastor is not greater than his congregation. Therefore, we must serve one another, and in doing so, we are serving Jesus. Think About It.
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