Serve With Love

The King Washes His Servants Feet

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 13

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,

Jesus knew that the Father had given Christ authority over all things. If there was ever a time where the disciples should wash Jesus feet it would be now. However; we find that the disciples were arguing about who was going to be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The disciples were more focused on themselves rather than Jesus or one another. There hearts were not right and rather than telling the disciples the error of their way, He demonstrated where their hearts should be.

Jesus took laid aside his garment, took a towel, and began washing the disciples feet. This was astonishing and embarrassing to the disciples because this task was meant for the lowliest of servants. Although He is God he lowers himself to wash the feet of those who he has authority over. Jesus wanted to demonstrate what a servant heart looks like. It does not think higher of himself than he ought to and looks to be a help and a benefit to others.

Application.

What task are you to good for? Who are people that you will not serve?

Could it be that you say I will never clean toilets? Or I will never do manual labor? There are sometimes in life where we may be tempted to say I have made enough money that I will pay someone else to do that because that is well bel ow my pay-grade. Or we might say I have enough education that I don’t have to work with my hands, I will get someone else to do that because after all they aren’t smart enough to do what I do. Or we might say I have done this job long enough and “did my time” now it is someone else’s turn to do the grunt work. Jesus is the richest person in the world (he owns it all), He is the smartest person in the world (He knows everything), He has done everything for a long time, yet we see Him taking the roll of a servant and washing His disciples feet.

Jesus disciples were fighting over who was going to be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. They were focused on themselves and not on Christ or one another. There hearts were not prepared to serve. This is a valuable lesson. When our hearts are not abiding in Christ we will focus on self and not be able to serve others.

A faithful servant is one that is so in love with Jesus that He wants to please him by serving others

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Peter Refused To Let Jesus Wash His Feet.

Peter didn’t want Jesus to wash his feet because he thought Jesus was above washing feet.

Jesus warned Peter that If he didn’t let him wash his feet that he had no part with him. Jesus was telling Peter that feet washing was about more than getting your feet clean. Jesus was demonstrating that he was going to serve them in a capacity that would affect them eternally. His ultimate act of service was to die on the cross for his sin. Jesus knew that he must wash their feet in order for them to understand the depth of his love for them.

Peter said that if it took a foot washing to be a part of Christ then he wanted his hands and his head washed too. Jesus said that the demonstration of my service to you will be enough to make you clean.

Application

Our level of service is an indicator of our depth of love. Illustration: How well do you serve your spouse, kids, friends, and family. There is not much that you will not be willing to do for them because your depth of love for them is great. Jesus loved his disciples so much that He was going to lay his life down for them.

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

We are not only called to serve those that are close to us but also those that are not. We are able to do this out of our love for Jesus. We can even serve people that we oppose us and disagree with us out of a love for Him. I recall a time that I had a sharp disagreement with a brother in Christ. He hurt me deeply and I had to fight the desire I had for him to get paid back. I went to the Lord because I knew my heart was not right. The Lord instructed me to pray for this person and take him to lunch. I did not want to pray for him and the last thing I wanted to do is buy his lunch. The only way I was able to do it was because I loved Jesus and wanted to be obedient to him. It was one of the best things I could have done! The Lord had been working on him as well, and now we are friends.

For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

Jesus commands us to serve one another. When we serve one another we bring glory to Jesus and he takes notice and will reward us when we stand before him.

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me somethingto eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not [e]take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Application

How are we to serve one another. When people are hungry we simply give them something to eat. People can be hungry physically or spiritually. FEED THEM! When God affords you this opportunity, don’t miss it. When someone is thirsty, simply give them a cold drink. There will be people that are spiritually dry. Be that cup of refreshing drink that replenishes them. When someone is a stranger simply make them a part of the family. Show them hospitality and lead them to faith in Jesus Christ. You will encounter people that have been exposed. Clothe them in the instruction of the Lord and love. You will encounter people that are sick. Bless them with the ministry of presence, VISIT THEM! You will encounter people that are physically imprisoned. GO TO THEM! There are also people that are imprisoned by sin. SET THEM FREE BY LEADING THEM TO CHRIST!