Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "Jesus, Our Example of Service" Wednesday (Christmas Eve), 24 December 2014 - Scripture: John 13: Washing His Disciples’ Feet1-2 Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal.
3-6 Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?”
7 Jesus answered, “You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.”
8 Peter persisted, “You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!”
Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.”
9 “Master!” said Peter. “Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!”
10-12 Jesus said, “If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you’re clean. But not every one of you.” (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you.”) After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.
12-17 Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.
"Jesus, Our Example of Service" by Doug Forsberg
The Last Supper of Jesus and His disciples is recorded in all four Gospels. John, however, is the only Gospel writer to mention the washing of the disciples’ feet. What took place that night was so profound that John takes great effort–retelling the event in detail. The scene of Jesus, the Son of God, on His knees with basin and towel washing the feet of His disciples was so very astonishing that Peter probably spoke for all of them when he said, “You shall never wash my feet” (John 13:8).
Years have passed since that night when God in human form knelt down and washed the very dirty feet of some very bewildered people. Many books and sermons have tried to clarify the truth of that profound event. Jesus himself gives the best commentary on the true nature of that awe inspiring night, “I have set you an example” (13:15)
To be a true and faithful follower of the Master is to follow His example of loving caring servanthood in the spirit of His humility.
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