The Servant: Washing Feet
The “Teacher” and the “Lord” humbles himself, taking on the role of the house servant, by washing the feet of his disciples. He knew would abandon him within the next 24 hours & yet he served them. John tells us that Jesus served these men because he:
- knew that his time had come to depart from this world to the Father (v. 1)
- knew that the Father had handed all things over to him (v.3)
- knew that he had come from God (v.3)
- knew that he was going back to God (v.3)
The actions Jesus took on this earth were directly tied to the relationship with the Father. He knew who he was, where he was from & where he was going and that freed him up to serve in the most menial way. He wasn’t looking for the pomp & circumstance that he was rightly due. He knew his home was with the Father. He knew that all things would be made right in the end. He knew that these men were frail, that they would abandon him but that they would come together in the power of the Holy Spirit after his ascension. And so because Jesus knew what the important things were he was able to love these men to the very end.
He goes on to explain to the disciples that he was indeed the teacher & the Lord & that he was setting an example that they should follow. What was the example?
- Being a Christ-like teacher involves doing the menial, repulsive tasks for the benefit & greater good of others. If Christ teaches us anything about leadership it’s that the normal, worldly methods don’t apply.
-
Serving others is not based on what you’ll get in return. You serve because it reflects the heart of God.
- You don’t serve so that you’ll get the recognition and a plaque that acknowledges your service.
- You don’t serve so that you’ll be interviewed by the local paper.
- You don’t serve because you think it’s good for your personal PR department.
-
You serve others even when you know that those you are serving will not respond in kind.
- Jesus washed Judas’ feet & was then betrayed.
- Jesus washed Peter’s feet & was then denied
- Jesus washed the other’s feet & was then abandoned
- Keeping in mind who you are, where you’ve come from & where you’re going is critical to being able to serve freely & with a joyful heart. Jesus wasn’t concerned about making sure he got his fair share here on earth. He wasn’t preoccupied with making sure his reputation was spotless. He knew he was loved by the Father. He knew he was exactly where he was supposed to be and that he’s soon be glorified and that freed him up to simply obey & let the chips fall where they may. If there is a pre-occupation that your citizenship is on earth then serving actually doesn’t make a ton of sense. If you rightly understand that, as a Christ-follower, your citizenship is in heaven then serving others here on earth makes a lot of sense. But you’ve got to be clear on where your passport is from.
- There is an emphasis is on application – Jesus tells these men that they will be blessed if they do these things. Not blessed if they know these things. Not blessed if they understand these things. Not blessed if they can defend them against the intellectual atheist of the day. Not blessed if they can articulate them in a three point sermon with two sub-points & a story. They are bessed if they actually do these things.
