Cat Café in Vienna

Someday… 

John 13:5-20 

Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So, He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, ‘Lord, do You wash my feet?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter’…So when He had washed their feet and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 

Have you ever disciplined your children and told them, “someday you’ll understand and appreciate what I’m doing”? Jesus is telling them that someday soon, they’ll understand the importance of washing feet. Jesus is teaching them that His role on earth is to serve! He came to serve. His first coming was a mission of service. 

The prophecy of Isaiah 53 describes the Messiah as a suffering Servant. It begins with God’s words, Behold, My servant, 52:13. Jesus is the servant of God. The prophecy ends with My servant will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities, 53:11. Jesus himself proclaimed For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, Mark 10:45. He is the Servant King. Do you want to be like Jesus? Nothing reflects the glory of Jesus in your life more than when you serve, in Jesus’ name (not for your own recognition). 

The act of washing the disciples’ feet points to His work on the cross (a couple days away) as an object lesson of service for the cleansing of sin of those He loves. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. This humble act of washing the feet of those He loves is a picture of the ultimate act of service; the finished work on the cross (loving His own to the end) and the full act of dying for those He loves in the world. He took serving to the ultimate end!

He sovereignly knew the end was coming and He acted accordingly. In other words, these are the prioritized events of His final hours on earth. His time is short. What can He do to teach them the most important aspects of discipleship? What object lesson would have the greatest impact? The first thing He does in these final hours with them is washes their feet. This act is reinforcing to the disciples, through His example, to SERVE AND BE SERVANTS. 

What is the application to us? Jesus plainly states it when He says, Do you know what I have done? If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I give you an example. The disciples had a hard time with the concept of humility and serving. Instead, they sought greatness in the future Kingdom rather than service now.  

Jesus, forgive us for our pride, our desire for prominence and recognition. Cause our first thoughts in all situations to be thoughts of serving rather than being served. May our first thoughts be to lift others up rather than ourselves, to meet other’s needs rather than our own. To forsake our comfort for the comfort of others. This is a hard lesson. Help us Lord! Amen!