Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, ” The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not everyone of you. For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “not all of you are Clean.” When he had washed their outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. IF I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should od just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than then his master, not is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you ay believe that I am he. John 13:9-19
Truth! We all like truth. We get so upset when we realize we have been lied too. The third thing Christ showed us was to convey the truth that those who follow him have to humbly serve one another.
Christ wants us to have an attitude and mindset like his. He wants us to imitate him. He wants us to first have a desire for us to be humble and serving one another, not the way the disciple were acting. They act as if they were superior and honored above others. How many of us Christians fall into this trap? Let’s imitate Jesus!
In verse 8 from yesterday, “if I do not wash you” is talking about our spiritual washing. The spiritual washing is the cleansing us from sin and guilt. Christ dying on the cross makes this available to all who asks. Here’s the deal, only those who admit their sin and guilt to God, turn away form their own way, and surrender their lives to Christ and follow God’s way of living will receive this cleansing. This is the only way to belong to Christ. This is the only way to experience the plan God has for us.
God asks us to humble ourselves and wash each others feet. Jesus view were that being that no one was above the other. Where are you at with this? Do you think you are better or higher than someone else? Do you serve or expect to be served? Do you offer to do the job the others hate to do? Are you a leader, who barks orders or do your helpers see you doing as much work as them? Are you valuing and respecting your helpers/volunteers time?
Remember Christ put others before himself and we are to be imitators of Christ!!
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank you for sending us a great example of how we are to be. I pray that we will have a servant’s heart like Jesus.
In Jesus Name
Amen
