“Greater love has no one than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.” -John 15:13
Thursday evening came, and the disciples and Jesus gathered in the upper room of a small house in Jerusalem so they could observe the Passover. Jesus “knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father-“ in other words, Jesus knew he was about to die (John 13:1).
He probably looked around His group of disciples, his friends, and felt sorrow in His heart that He was going to have to physically leave them. “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1).
He loved them to the end.
Now this next part of the story is where things get interesting: Jesus got up from the table, tied a towel around His waist and began to wash His disciples’ feet.
The washing of feet was traditionally reserved for the lowest servant. Think about it- washing stinky feet that are covered in dust from walking around the desert all day? Not a job I’d be happy to have, if I’m being entirely honest.
For some reason, the house where they were celebrating the Passover didn’t have a servant wash the disciples’ and Jesus’ feet. The master of the house didn’t step up to do this dirty job. Even one of the disciples, who had been with Jesus always, didn’t volunteer. Jesus Himself was the only one in that house humble enough to serve his friends.
When Jesus came to Simon Peter, he voiced what I’m sure all the others were thinking: “Jesus, WHAT are you doing??”
Well, it actually went more like, “Lord, do you was my feet?” but I’m sure there was echoes of disbelief and shock in Peter’s voice (John 13:6).
Jesus explained that Peter wouldn’t understand now, but someday he would.
I imagine the stubborn Peter crossing his arms and staring at Jesus, “You shall never wash my feet” (John 13:8).
Jesus replied with “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me” and that convinced Peter (John 13:8).
I want you to notice how Peter protested Jesus washing his feet, but he didn’t volunteer to take Jesus’ place.
He still didn’t get it- that followers of Jesus are called to be servants. Peter still felt some pride, he wasn’t going to be the one washing people’s feet! I don’t think Peter understood sacrificial love until after Jesus had died and risen again from the dead.
Anywho, when Jesus had finished, He returned to His place at the table.
“Do you understand what I have done to you?” Jesus asked. “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 do just as I have done to you.” –John 13:12-15
Later on in their meal, Jesus instructed the disciples to love one another. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another” (John 13:34). Sounds simple enough, right?
Here’s the catch:
“Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.” – John 13:34
And again, in John 15:12, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
“Just as I have loved you…”
And how, exactly, did Jesus love His disciples?
- By washing their feet- an act of service
- By dying for them- the ultimate sacrifice
“…you are also to love one another.”
By serving others.
As we talked about before, love is action. Love is putting someone else’s needs before your own.
By following Jesus, we might have to get dirty. We might have to get someone else’s dirt and mess on our hands. Following Jesus is not a tidy experience. It’s serving till the end.
Loving other’s as Jesus loved us may be messy business, but it doesn’t come without a promise.
Jesus’ promise:
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” -John 13:35
When we love each other in good times and bad times, the world notices. We show the world the kind of love Jesus has for us by following His example. Jesus didn’t mind getting someone else’s filth on Him to show them His love. In the same way, we shouldn’t mind walking alongside someone in their times of difficulty to show them His love.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” -John 15:13
Jesus loved us with the greatest kind of love. He loved us to die for us and He will love us on into eternity. Talk about sacrificial love!
Read the rest of the Abide series here.
Patricia
No greater love, and no other god would do this! This is why there’s no one like our Lord. The gods of old are fickle and you would never expect them to serve their subjects. The Greek word diakonos (where we get the word “deacon”) actually translates to being a waiter or servant! So as ministers, it’s not that people serve us, especially when we’re in a place of leadership. It’s us serving one another just as Christ did for us. Great post!
Kara Beth Post author
Exactly! Only our God is willing to humble Himself to serve His creations. No other religion has that. Great point :)