When we know we have been betrayed, what is the first thing we want to do? You probably didn't say, "serve others", but that is what our Lord does in John chapter 13. Before Judas leaves to betray Him at the Last Supper Jesus quietly gets up and proceeds to wash the feet of the disciples. This lesson on serving is one that we see repeated many times in the Gospels.
The Disciples’ Struggle with Greatness
Just before Jesus and His disciples gathered for the Last Supper, the disciples were again discussing amongst themselves who was the most important (Luke 22:24-30). It seems they were somewhat hard headed in learning the lesson that none of them were to be considered great. The argument had come up before in Luke 9:46 to which our Lord replied, "Whoever is the least among you is the greatest" (Luke9:48).
Jesus had even told them that only those willing to take up their cross and follow Him would be His (Matthew 16:24-27). The cross was the ultimate punishment for criminals of no importance or lower social status, mostly slaves. To take up your cross meant to live with humility and willingness to sacrifice everything for others. So now Jesus shows them one last time what it means to be a servant. He does this out of the great love He has for them. A love He says He had "unto the end" (John 13:1).
Sometimes we all struggle with this. We want someone to recognize us for what we've done. We want to be seen as important. However, Paul tells us in Philippians 2:3 that we should actually view others as more important than ourselves.
The Neglected Task and the Servant’s Heart
Washing the guest's feet was a servant's job and it had had been completely neglected. The disciples’ feet, and even Jesus’ feet, were dirty from the day’s walk, yet no one offered to wash them. They had already reclined at the table, which means they were not sitting at a dining room table but leaning on their elbow with their feet outstretched. Each could see the task that needed to be done, yet none took the initiative to do it.
While the disciples might have been willing to wash Jesus' feet, they couldn't wash only His and leave everyone else's untouched. If they had washed the other disciples feet, it would have made themselves seem less important. The importance of service and the importance of washing—both would be demonstrated by our Lord.
Jesus Washes All Feet, Including Judas’
Each disciple was treated equally. Each disciple's feet, including Judas', were cleaned and dried with a towel by our Lord. He served the one who would betray Him the same as those who would follow Him. He died on a cross the next day for the man He knew would betray Him. In choosing sin, we too betray Him, yet His love remains steadfast, as Paul reminds us in Romans 5:8.
How Far Had Judas Fallen?
What could have been going through Judas' mind? How far had he removed himself from Christ not to feel the love and forgiveness that Jesus offered even Him? No matter how far you are from Christ, or if you've hit rock bottom, He extends His love and forgiveness to you, even now. Just as Jesus showed love and humility to Judas, we should also serve others in the same way. Have we ever reached out in love, as Jesus did, to someone who betrayed us?
A Call to Humble Service in Any Circumstance
I recently heard a missionary couple discussing their work in a Central American country. They came to discover that the best way to witness to the people was to go to the enormous garbage dump where many of the people lived and worked. It was a smelly, nasty, disease-ridden place, but there they could successfully share the love of Christ because no missionaries before them had gone to this place. When we serve, we can't be surprised if we get dirty. To clean something often means one has to touch the dirt.
When the unpleasant job is open at church are we hesitant to take it? The dirty job that gets no praise. Do we serve our fellow church goers in quiet and unappreciated ways? Or do we only serve when others will know about it? Do we look for ways to serve or do we leave that to those who we think have more time or money?
Peter’s Protest and Our Baptismal Commitment
When Jesus reaches Peter, Peter protests that Jesus should never wash His feet. But when Jesus responds, telling him that he will have no part in Him if He does not, Peter excitedly tells Jesus to wash not just his feet but all of him. Peter must receive, not just a physical cleansing, but also a spiritual one. His sins, like dirt, must be washed away by the only one who can—Jesus. Our Baptism reminds us of this. It is a public commitment to follow the example of Jesus. We rise from the waters of Baptism as new creatures who should serve as He served (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Embracing Humility in Service
Was there a hint of pride in Peter when he first refused Jesus to wash his feet? Are we willing to accept the service of others when they offer it? Or does their service remind us of our unwillingness to serve others ourselves? Without accepting the blood of Jesus that washes away our sin, we also will have no part in Him.
As John McClaren says,
"He kneels before us, having the right and the power to wash us because He has died for us."
Peter seems to be remembering this event in 1 Peter 5:5 when he says, “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble'”. The word clothe here is used this way only once and it means "putting on a slave's costume."
And in Philippians 2:7, Paul says that our Jesus, "emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant." He came to us without any worldly privilege or power. He was a true servant who met the needs of others without seeking recognition. He lived out the principle of doing what needed to be done, not because He had to, but out of perfect love and obedience to the Father. When was the last time you served someone in a way that required humility?
Jesus’ Ultimate Lesson on Serving Others
When Jesus rose from the table to wash their feet, they surely must have felt deeply embarrassed. Their master and teacher, their very Lord, had assumed the job that one of them, or all of them, should have assumed. Our Lord makes it clear in Luke 22:27 when He says, "I am among you as the One who serves.".
In John 13:14, Jesus tells the disciples that if He washed their feet for them, then they should do it for each other—not just in a once a year ceremony, but in a very real way they should continuously seek to serve each other. Not only by washing feet, but by humbly serving in any way they could.
Serving Others with Love, Not Condemnation
Serving Jesus seems only right because He is our Lord, and serving other people means responding to them as Jesus did. Jesus didn't criticize the disciples for having dirty feet. He didn't tell them that if they had been more careful or if they had avoided certain paths they would be cleaner. He simply knelt in front of them and cleaned them.
When we serve others, is it out of love or is there just a bit of unspoken condemnation? Do we sometimes think, well if this person had just done 'this' or not done 'that' then they wouldn't be in such a state. They wouldn't need to be 'washed' or 'served'.
Blessed Are You If You Do These Things (John 13:17)
Jesus sums it all up by saying that, "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." Do we want to please God? Knowing about His word is essential, but doing it is even more important. It is in the doing that we please God. As we are told so many times in the Old Testament, it is a changed heart that God wants not just lip service. Will we serve man and serve God, even when we're betrayed or wronged? Do we have a servant's heart?
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