We have considered the heart and mind of Jesus as He picks up the towel to wash His disciples’ feet. He actually washes their feet in verses 5-11 (John 13). There are some religions who practice “foot-washing” in their worship services. While it is not necessarily sinful to wash others’ feet, foot-washing is not an act of worship; it is an act of hospitality. They wore sandals back then. They walked on dirt roads back then. When you had a visitor come into your house, you or a servant washed their feet. It was an act of hospitality. The only other time “foot-washing” is mentioned in Scripture (unless we count Luke 7:36-39) is when Paul lists the qualifications of a widow who could be supported by the church’s treasury (1 Timothy 5:10). In no other text in the NT is this practice mentioned and it has no OT background for it. It was a cultural practice in the first century for the reason I have mentioned. So, it is not a practice that is required of all Christians, of all time, everywhere, as, for example, the observance of the Lord’s Supper.
But we wish you consider Jesus’ message to His disciples in the context of this action, verses 12-17…
WE NEED THE HUMILITY OF JESUS – 13:12-17:
This whole discussion has led up to the very point we are making about how to live a life of joy with Jesus: serve with humility. Let’s look closely at Jesus’ message:
“Do you know what I have done to you?” Jesus asks His disciples to reflect on what they have just seen and experienced. Whenever I would complain to Dad about not wanting to do things for the church, my dad would put a guilt trip on me and my siblings by saying, “Jesus didn’t want to go to the cross, either, but He did.” I did not like being motivated to serve Jesus through guilt and I have tried never to use that with Jewell and Ana. But, it is helpful, in trying to find it in our hearts to serve others, to think about what Jesus did for us.
Verse 13: Yes, Jesus was the Master, the Teacher, Lord. Jesus had every right to command them, and you and me, to do anything, to do anything. He is Master, Teacher, Lord, Son of God! But Jesus doesn’t not call us to do something that He Himself has not done.
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Verse 14: Jesus, being Lord, Master, and Teacher, washed their feet. He did not have to do that. If He had commanded, any one of the apostles would have done so. Perhaps with gratitude, perhaps with humility. The problem was, they did not do it without being prompted. They did not do it by their nature. That’s what Jesus is getting at. Don’t wait to be told by a “higher-up” to serve! Let service to others be at the center of what you do. Let service be in your heart. Then you won’t have to be cajoled into serving. You won’t have to be bribed into serving. You won’t have to be forced into serving.
Verse 15: That’s the example Jesus has left us. Jesus, the Master, Teacher, and Lord served those lower than Him. He calls on us to do the same, to put ourselves lower than others and serve them. We have the ability to perform a service, so we do it. Just like Jesus did.
Verse 16: We are Christ’s slaves, just as Jesus made Himself both a slave to His Father and a slave to His human creation. We are His slaves; we became His slaves when we were baptized into Him. Peter told the Jews on the Day of Pentecost that God made Jesus “Lord (Master) and Christ” (Acts 2:37). We are His slaves.
And we are not above the Master. One sent is not above the one who sent. If Jesus served others, so we must do as well.
Verse 17: Finally, this whole series is how to “live a life of joy with Jesus.” Notice here in this verse that Jesus says, “Blessed are you if you do these things.” Happy are you if you learn to serve from the heart. If you want to live a life of joy with Jesus, learn to serve with humility.
Paul Holland
