John 13:12-1712 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. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
This teaching is so plain that it cannot be misinterpreted. Yet, as simple as it is, the overwhelming failure to obey it has caused strife and trouble in the church throughout history!
Humility. As we saw in the preceding post, even though the Father had given Jesus authority over all things, he did not use that power for himself. Rather, he designed all the events of the next hours to serve and save his people. He did not think of himself. Instead, he made himself the servant of others. The footwashing was merely a picture of what he was about to do. And when Jesus tells us to wash one another’s feet, is he not telling us that we are also to follow his example and lay down our lives for one another?
I have not become a pastor so that others will look up to me or serve me. The shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. So I must continually look for ways to be a servant to every person God brings to me. He set the example for me.
And it’s not good enough just to know this truth. Jesus says we will be blessed if we do these things. So I ask myself this question: What can I do to serve and be a blessing to the people at New Hope and every other person God brings my way today?
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