Day 129: How Do We Follow Jesus’ Example?
Jesus asked His first disciples a penetrating question: “What do you want?” (John 1:37-38). Everyone who would follow Jesus must consider this question. Why are we following Jesus? What do we want from Him? That question can only be truly answered by understanding one of Jesus final questions to His disciples : “Do you understand what I have done for you?”
In the last hours before His crucifixion, Jesus literally took on the role of a humble servant and washed the disciples’ feet. You can read this whole episode in John 13:1-17. Today we are going to work through parts of this passage that focus on Jesus example for us.
John 13:1
Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that his time had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end. 13:2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray Jesus.
13:3 Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 13:4 he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself. 13:5 He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.
Most of this narrative is self explanatory. John wants to make sure that we can visualize being in this place with Jesus and His disciples in the last hours before His crucifixion. Instead of Jesus being served by His students, He serves them.
Jesus’ actions are rooted in His identity; He knew who He IS. He knew where He had come from and where He was heading. He knew that the Father has entrusted all things into His care. Because of this deep rooted identity, Jesus is free of pride, desire for self achieved power,
We know from the other accounts of this “Last Supper”—which is really the first New Passover for New Era—the disciples were bickering and arguing over who would be greatest in the Kingdom (see Luke 22:24). Jesus washes their feet. Judas has already taken steps, through Devilish inspiration, to sell Jesus to his enemies for the price of a slave gored by an ox (see Exodus 21:32). Jesus washes His betrayer’s feet. Jesus performs the most humble service to those who at that time did not “get it” and also to His enemy. Jesus has taught on these things earlier; now He embodies these truths in His actions. He then explains:
John 13:12
So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table again and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? 13:13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, for that is what I am. 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. 13:15 For I have given you an example —you should do just as I have done for you.
Jesus begins His ministry to his first disciples with the penetrating question: “What do you want?” (John 1:37-38). Everyone who would follow Jesus must consider this question. Why are we following Jesus? What do we want from Him? That question can only be truly understood and answered by this last question: “Do you understand what I have done for you?” As we have already heard, Jesus did no come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). Jesus loved us to point of giving His life for us.
Jesus washes His disciple’s feet to give them a living example of the greatest virtue in The Kingdom: Love expressed in self-sacrificial service. We are called to do for one another what Jesus has done for us. Then the core truth:
John 13:16
I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 13:17 If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Our Master and Lord is also our Servant. He has served us all in ways that we could not care for ourselves. To claim to follow Jesus and then to demand “you way” or “your rights” means that you have not understood the core truth of who Jesus is and that you have not taken on “His way.” Again, the words of Jesus are right to the point: “Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). If we do not have love for one another, we cannot claim to be Jesus true students, disciples.
Love that reveals itself in self sacrificial service is the ultimate expression of who Jesus is and who His disciples should desire to be. If we do not have love, we have nothing (see 1 Corinthians 13:1-3). John even tells us in his first letter that anyone who claims to love God but hates his brother is a liar (1 John 4:20-21).
We see here the high calling we have from Jesus. Loving others, and especially our enemies, is something that does not come “naturally” to us. In fact, the sin that dwells within us rebels against this notion continually. This is why we need the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us. If we want to love and serve as Jesus did, The Spirit will enable and empower us to do so.
We have covered a lot this week. As we close, take a few minutes to think about that question from Jesus: “What do you want?” Jesus is leading you to become a self sacrificial servant of all. Is that truly what you want?
*You can find a complete list of all the MilktoMeat readings here.
