Serve Like Jesus
Pride is the besetting sin of the human race. It is even a great scourge among God’s own children. On the road to Jerusalem (for Jesus to be crucified), the apostles were arguing over who would be the greatest (Mark 10:35-45). In that context, Jesus told them, “Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
The apostles did not internalize that message. A day or so later, in the upper room, after “celebrating” the Lord’s Supper, “there arose a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest” (Luke 22:24). Were they listening? The problem was, they were human.
So, God-in-the-flesh got up from supper (John 13:1ff), laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. Washing the feet of others was so low a task that only Gentile servants would do such a thing. But God-in-the-flesh came to serve, as He had emphasized to these hard-headed disciples. So, He demonstrates for them what He means.
He pours water into the basin and begins washing. He comes to the impetuous Peter, who says, “Do you wash my feet?” Surely, not. Is Peter appearing to be more spiritual than God-in-the-flesh? Is he trying to “out-Christianize” Christ? Is he trying to be more spiritual than the Eternal Spirit? Pseudo-spirituality, pride masquerading as Christianity, is repulsive and obvious to everyone around.
Is Peter trying to protect Jesus’ image? Rabbis did not wash feet. Did Peter think it was beneath the dignity of Jesus to be washing feet? Maybe he would have washed them if he had thought he could get some praise or recognition for it. We know the apostles had a false idea of Who Jesus was. But we don’t create Jesus after our image (see 2 Cor. 11:4). We form our character after His image.
Every era in some buy cialis from canada way survives its “defining moments”. You can include bananas, eggs, oysters, pumpkin seeds, watermelon, broccoli, spinach, garlic, sesame seeds and pomegranate. tadalafil generic cheap When cycling viagra without prescription the blood supply is blocked by the saddle. You need to talk order viagra on line to your physician about other options and do not give up. The reason Peter stopped Jesus was pride. He simply did not want Jesus doing this act on him. But, after Jesus’ chastisement, Peter repented and asked Jesus to wash his hands and his feet.
“If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you” (John 13:14-15).
The message Jesus is conveying is that we should serve one another, regardless who gets the credit. Even menial tasks, non-glorious tasks.
He is not teaching that foot-washing is a permanent ordinance in His church. There is no mention of foot-washing by the apostles or other first-century Christians in the New Testament except the widows in 1 Timothy 5:10. Early Christians did not understand this practice to be an aspect of Christian worship since it was not performed until about the 4th century. Additionally, the context of John 13 is service, not worship. All of service to God glorifies Him. All of worship glorifies Him. But service is not worship and worship is not service.
Serve, like Jesus served. “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them” (John 13:17).
–Paul Holland
