An Example of Humility and Service
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“After washing their feet, He put on His robe again and sat down and asked, ‘Do you understand what I was doing? You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 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. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.” John 13:12-17 (NLT)
It was a Thursday evening, the night before Good Friday. It would be an unforgettable evening for Jesus’ disciples as He showed them the full extent of His love. Never in His three years with them had they doubted His love. Yet, on this evening, He would take special care to express His love for them in a way they would never forget! John records the events and instructions that Jesus gave them that evening in five chapters that cover John 13-17.
Following the Last Supper that they would share together, Jesus modeled servanthood in a way that humbled them all. John tells us that Jesus, “… got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel He had around Him.” (John 13:4-5 NLT)
What a display of humility and service. The disciples must have been shocked when they saw their Master rise from the supper table, lay aside His robe, wrap a towel around His waist, take a basin of water, and wash their feet. This was a menial task typically done by a household servant, and yet Jesus did it! Verse three prefaces what Jesus did with what He knew, “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God.” When you know who you are, where you’ve come from and where you’re going, you no longer need to impress others. You can serve with humility like Jesus did. He was their Master, yet He took the place of a servant. He had all things under His power, yet He picked up a towel and washed their feet. It’s been said that humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's just thinking of yourself less. True humility grows out of our relationship with God. If our desire is to know and do His will so that we might glorify His name, then we will experience the joy of following Christ's example and serving others.
It’s impossible to read this account without feeling the same rebuke the disciples must have felt to their selfishness and pride. Most of us have the same competitive spirit they had, longing to be the first and most important. We would rather be served than to serve. After all, isn’t that the mark of success in our culture? It took Jesus’ example of humility and service to teach them that following Him was counter-cultural.
As we prepare for Easter, God calls us to serve others as He served us. Jesus said, “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!” (Vs. 14-17 NLT/TEV)
Look for ways to serve those around you this Easter and experience the joy Jesus promised when you do.