Jewels From JohnSýnishorn

Let’s Get Down to Serving

Jesus said, “You call me. ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,' and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet.” John 13:13-14 (NLT) (Read John 13:1-15 for the entire narrative)

That day, when Jesus took a basin of water and stooped down to wash the feet of His disciples, He did so, fully aware of several things. He knew His hour had come to depart from the world, that Judas Iscariot was conspiring to betray Him, that the Father had handed over all authority into His hands, and that He came from God, and was going back to God. (John 13:1-3).

So, what was it that prompted Jesus to go down on His knees, and wash all of His disciples’ feet, including that of Judas? There were a few key reasons mentioned. The first one was His immense, and unconditional love for His disciples. 

John 13:1 spells it out this way, “Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” (NKJV). Secondly, when Peter refused to let Jesus wash his feet, Jesus told Him something profound “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” John 13:8 (NKJV).  He was demonstrating to them that is was not just the outward washing of the body that was important, but the inner cleansing of our sins, which only the shed blood of Christ could accomplish for us. Thirdly, Jesus was setting an example for them to follow. He explained to them in John 13:13-14 that, if He, their Lord and Master, could wash their feet, then they, His followers, had the obligation to serve one another with love and humility.

Jesus further explained this in John 13:16, “Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” He was simply telling them that they were merely servants and messengers for the only one who was worthy of all honour and glory, God Himself.

To serve as Jesus did, we need to demonstrate the love and humility that He modelled. A love that is even willing to love those who don’t love us, and intend to harm us. The humility that enables us to give up our position, our authority, our rights, gives us grace to serve one another and esteem others better than ourselves.

We can conclude with Jesus' words in John 13:17, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."