Jesus Washes The Disciples’ Feet
Jesus exemplified servant leadership. In John Chapter 13 we find that Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. Stephanie explains the significance of this action and what it means for us.
The Servant Jesus Washes The Disciples Feet
John 12:24-26 (ESV) records that Jesus said,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”
And John 13:3-5 (ESV) says,
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
First, a quick history lesson . . . among the many tasks servants were expected to perform in Bible times, this was among the most menial. And here was Jesus—the Messiah, the Saviour—washing His disciples’ feet. It’s no wonder Peter objected—until the Master explained the significance of His actions.
It’s unlikely that the disciples considered Jesus’ earlier words, those we read in the passage from John 12, but as always, the Lord knew exactly what He was doing. He was showing His disciples—and us—what it meant to serve Him, to follow Him, to “hate” their life.
Keep Eternity In View
Does that mean we are not to thank Him for the blessings He pours out on us each day? Does it mean this life has no significance? Not at all, but we must keep eternity in view. With His help, we must keep our priorities where they should be.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day: our career, our family, our possessions. Are we working so hard to get ahead that we forget we are to follow Jesus’ example? Is it outdated to think that He calls His children to a life of service?
Philippians 2:3 (ESV) instructs us,
“In humility count others more significant than yourselves.” That is a difficult passage to accept—especially in a world that emphasizes the importance of self-esteem and making it our #1 priority to take care of ourselves.
Does this mean that God doesn’t care about us as individuals? Absolutely not. Does it mean that we don’t seek help —and sometimes walk away from unhealthy relationships? Again, that’s not what this verse is saying.
For a more complete picture, let’s consider vv. 3-7 of Philippians 2:
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant.”
Jesus, The Humble Servant
We see from John 13 that Jesus set the perfect example of a humble servant—and if we want to truly follow Him, He will give us the humility and the determination to do the same, to reach out in love for the good of others.
And we must keep in mind what He said in Matthew 10:24 (ESV),
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.”
Matthew 10:24
Jesus is our teacher and He is our master. He lay down His life and He calls us to do the same. We know that some will be called to literally lay down their lives as followers of Jesus. However, most of us will be asked day after day to commit our ambitions and plans to Him, to see how to apply godly priorities to every area of life—to lay down our agenda to take up His. All Christians are called to give God the #1 place in their lives. We are not to clutch the things of this world. We are to offer them freely to the Lord.
Steph Nickel
Steph Beth Nickel is eclectically interested and eclectically involved. In all she does, Steph seeks to nurture and inspire. She is currently working on the first book in a nonfiction series. Nurture and Inspire LOVE is a compilation of the first devotionals she wrote for HopeStreamRadio.
Steph is a freelance writer and editor. She is the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’ award-winning memoir, Living Beyond My Circumstances, published by Castle Quay Books. Deb and Steph are working on a follow-up book.
You can visit her website, stephbethnickel.com, to learn more about her.
Visit Steph’s contributor’s page or at Steph Nickel’s Eclectic Interests.
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