The Servant
John’s gospel records this incident where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. John records,
“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”
For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”John 13:1-17.
Here plain and simply Jesus sets an example for all his followers not just the disciples who were with him that day but to all believers.
He shows that those in authority should be willing to serve.
As I understand it the washing of a guests feet was something done by the lowest of servants in the household.
Thus Jesus who held the respect of the disciples as teacher and Lord, symbolically became the least of them in the room. In doing so he was telling his followers that you must be willing to serve.
Notice as well here that Jesus knowing full well who would betray him still washed the persons feet.
Now in the present day church here in North America and the western nations, we may not be called to wash someone’s feet but there are other things we might be called to do. Be it cleaning the church building including the toilets, or for that mater during service changing a dirty diaper in the nursery during a church service allowing the parents of the child to be in the service.
The question is if you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ are you willing to serve. To be the lowest of all servants in the Kingdom of God?
Please think about it.
John’s gospel records this incident where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. John records,
“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”
For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”John 13:1-17.
Here plain and simply Jesus sets an example for all his followers not just the disciples who were with him that day but to all believers.
He shows that those in authority should be willing to serve.
As I understand it the washing of a guests feet was something done by the lowest of servants in the household.
Thus Jesus who held the respect of the disciples as teacher and Lord, symbolically became the least of them in the room. In doing so he was telling his followers that you must be willing to serve.
Notice as well here that Jesus knowing full well who would betray him still washed the persons feet.
Now in the present day church here in North America and the western nations, we may not be called to wash someone’s feet but there are other things we might be called to do. Be it cleaning the church building including the toilets, or for that mater during service changing a dirty diaper in the nursery during a church service allowing the parents of the child to be in the service.
The question is if you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ are you willing to serve. To be the lowest of all servants in the Kingdom of God?
Please think about it.
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