Read:
John 13:13-17
13 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 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, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 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. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 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 every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Reflect:
Jesus mastered the whole “My pleasure” thing before Chick Fil A ever figured it out. He wrote the book on service with a smile. He logged more volunteers hours than every high school senior padding their college application combined. Jesus spent his final hours doing what he spent his whole life doing; he served. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
You can’t know God unless you know you need to be served by God. Read that again. It sounds a bit strange, doesn’t it? Maybe when you think of service you have this picture in your mind of breakfast in bed. When you need more orange juice you ring a little a bell and your refill comes (In no universe that I’m aware of does this happen, by the way. If it does, it’s likely your birthday and your kids made you breakfast). Jesus isn’t your servant looking to meet every whim. He’s not your heavenly bellhop. He is your Savior, though. And in saving you, he served you. John 13:8: Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”
You and I are desperate for what only God can give. We needed God to save us—to rescue us. To save us, Jesus served us. Today is a day in the church referred to as Maunday Thursday. It’s a day when the church remembers how Jesus washed the disciples feet and celebrated the Lord’s Supper. It’s a day when we remember Jesus served us to save us. And by his death and resurrection, Jesus made us clean. It was His pleasure.
Respond:
Spend some time giving thanks to God for how he served you in salvation.
Think about ways you can serve others during this time of uncertainty.
Love you, church
Pastor James
Pastor James