Take your eyes and your ears and your hands and your feet and your thoughts and your heart: Give them completely and unreservedly to Christ. – Billy Graham.
In a special meal more than two thousand years ago, Jesus sat down with twelve of His closest friends for their last supper together. However, the purpose was more than fellowship. Jesus wanted to teach His disciples an important lesson in leadership.
John 13:4 says Jesus did something highly unusual that night. He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. He then poured water into a basin and began washing the disciples’ feet. Peter was shocked and offended. He couldn’t stand the sight of his Master acting like a servant.
“Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Peter asked. Jesus, realizing how scandalous His act seemed to the disciples, said, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” “No,” Peter objected, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me” (John 13:6-8). After Jesus finished cleaning the disciples’ feet, He said, “And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15).
Jesus wasn’t encouraging His disciples to open a foot-washing clinic. He was showing them how they would be most effective in sharing the gospel. Serving others is a spiritual discipline that can be defined as an action motivated by love. First John 3:18 says, “…let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” It’s true: actions speak louder than words.
The Lord calls us to serve because it helps demonstrate to those around us what kind of Savior and Lord we follow. This can be encouraging to those who already know Him and revealing to those who don’t. After all, how do you usually react when you witness or benefit from someone’s example of service?
Following Jesus’s example is worth it. Jesus plainly says in John 13:17, “Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.” We are repeatedly told in the Bible that while following Jesus won’t always be easy, it will ultimately lead to our great benefit. It’s why, for example, Paul urges us, “… let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9). God is no one’s debtor. In one way or another, He will always give us far more than we give Him.
Love prompted the King of Kings to humble Himself and wash the disciples’ dirty feet and then the cross. Love is what we need to serve others.
Discussion Questions:
- When you think about serving others, do you see it primarily as helping people or as serving Christ Himself?
- What personal sacrifices – time, comfort, resources – has God asked you to make in order to serve others?