Love Service
Opening Prayer
Jesus, continue to amaze me in Your Word today.
Read John 13:1–17
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What one thing surprises you most about Jesus?Imagine for a moment that your boss comes to your desk at work, unties your shoes and proceeds to bathe and wash your feet. Substitute your boss with the Prime Minister or Her Majesty the Queen. It still doesn’t convey the magnitude of God the Son incarnate carefully taking a towel, tying it around his waist and stooping to wash and dry his disciples’ feet (4,5). Think about this for a moment: would you have washed Judas’s feet knowing that he had made his decision to betray you (2,11)?
Why did Jesus do this? This was a continuation of his love for the disciples (1). It was also to set the tone for how things should be done in his church (12–17). Peter couldn’t bear to see Jesus act as the lowest servant (8), but Jesus’ answer to him cuts to the heart of Christian service—“Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” It is Jesus’ once-and-for-all cleansing of us (10) that is the wellspring of all of our service to others. The legacy Jesus left is clear (Matt. 20:28) and he has set the pattern for us to follow.
Apply
Consider how well you are following Jesus’ example in loving others through humble service. How can you go a step further?
Closing prayer
God, help me to have a servant’s heart.
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