Come and SeeSample

In the front seat to the life of Jesus were His twelve disciples. Out of ordinary lives,
everything changed when they heard Him calling them to follow. They were there gasping with
the crowds as He performed impossible miracles. They were there listening to every teaching, as
He spoke words far above any common man. And they were watching closely as He took every
perfect step, never straying once from the right word or action. In every moment, they observed
that this ultimate Teacher and Lord was without fault of any kind.

So, when their hero knelt before them, it must have felt so wrong. They were flawed,
sinful men, but He was the perfect Son of God. Taking the role of the lowest servant, He
began washing their feet. Of all the things He could have done, this was the most demeaning,
most lowly, and most humble. It is unheard of for a King to stoop and clean the filth of another.
Yet here is Jesus. That night he washed the feet of men who would soon run from Him to save
themselves. He washed the feet of the man who would deny him three times. And He washed the
feet of the man who would betray Him to His death. Not one of them deserved it, but in this, He
taught them how to love. Love is stooping and serving, unconditionally, to the very end.
In a final lesson before His death, Jesus issued a command, that was so much weightier
than mere suggestion: “Love one another.” The disciples had witnessed powerful miracles,
impressive knowledge, and a perfect life in Jesus. However, none of these would be the defining
mark of the Christian. It is how we love that sets us apart as followers of Jesus.

Love looks like stooping and serving even when it doesn’t make sense. It is for those who
hurt us, betray us, or act differently than we’d like. They may be far from deserving, but love is
not based on merit. It’s based on our perfect God who knelt and washed the feet of sinners.

DAILY READING

Read John 13

CHRISTMAS CONNECTION

Go out of your way to stoop and serve someone each day until Christmas. You can also do this
“Secret Santa” style as a family.