John 13:1–11

1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped round him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ 7 Jesus replied, ‘You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ 8 ‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’ 9 ‘Then, Lord,’ Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!’

10 Jesus answered, ‘Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.’ 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

 

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. MARK 10:45

Long ago, the King of Scotland would occasionally set aside his royal robes to dress in the clothes of a commoner. Why would he do such a thing? So he could wander freely among the people. He wanted to understand life outside the castle and to live that life for a brief time among his subjects. This was an intentional act of humility as the king stepped into a world very different from the one his status merited.

But Jesus did much more. Although He was the very essence of God, Jesus came into this world and took on the very essence of a servant. Paul wrote that Christ “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (PHILIPPIANS 2:7).

As He ate the Passover meal with His disciples the night before His trial and crucifixion, Jesus vividly demonstrated this for us. His disciple John tells us that Jesus “got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist” (JOHN 13:4). Then He washed the dirty feet of His disciples.

This humble act validates Christ’s own assessment of His mission: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (MARK 10:45). So why are we surprised that He would take a basin and towel to wash His disciples’ feet? Jesus showed us the heart of the King who serves.

How do you react to Jesus’ surprising example of serving others in even the most menial tasks? How can you serve someone today?

Loving Saviour, we’re humbled by Your humble example of service. Help us to show more of that in our lives today.