Acceptable Service
Opening Prayer
Lord, give me the heart of a servant.
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
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” (John 13:8,9).
Why do we find it difficult to be served by others? Because it draws unwelcome attention to us? Or because we don’t feel we deserve it? Or do we find it hard to allow others to offer what they have? Perhaps Peter felt some mixture of these. The disciples probably sensed that things were coming to a head between Jesus and the authorities. During the evening, Jesus would talk of the “new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20), a new Passover, with him as the sacrificial lamb. At this point he does something extraordinary—he takes up a towel and washes the disciples’ feet. The others accept this, but not Peter—headstrong, impetuous, embarrassingly honest Peter.
Peter is happy with grand gestures. Aware of his failings, he recognizes his
dependence on Jesus. He accepts the big things that Jesus does for him—the
washing that signifies the change of direction and entry into the kingdom of
God. What he struggles with is the service of Jesus in the mundane, the everyday, as signified by the washing of feet. We find it easy to accept menial service when it comes from someone menial, but not from the one we call “Lord and Master” (14, AV).
Is Jesus turning our ideas of status upside down? Or is he doing something
more radical—disregarding them altogether? He gives us an example, teaching us that each member of his new family is to serve the others. What motivates him to do this? Because he knows that his time has come, that he is at one with his Father, and that he will shortly return to him (1). As we grow in the confidence of God’s love, we are set free to serve those around us, even in the menial tasks, just as Jesus did. Consider the small mercies—the everyday things for which you can praise God and the everyday ways you can serve others.
Apply
What are the day-to-day things for which you need to ask God’s help? Where can you show love and care to others in the mundane and the menial?
Closing prayer
What are the day-to-day things for which you need to ask God’s help? Where can you show love and care to others in the mundane and the menial?
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