Wash One Another’s Feet

Wash One Another’s Feet

Servant and leader – the two words seem not to go together, at least in this falen world. Jesus demonstrated a different way of leading. He told his disciples that they were not to lead like the Gentiles did by lording it over others. Real leader in his Kingdom were servants of all.
Jesus faced a dilemma. Even though he had taught this to his servants over and over, they still didn’t get it. They continued to jockey for position. They were concerned about who would sit on the right and the left of Jesus in the Kingdom. They argued about who was the greatest disciple. And on the night before his death, they entered the upper room with dirty feet because not a single one of the disciples of Jesus were willing to be servants. Incredible! Enter Jesus. He knew who he was, the Son of God. He knew that he was getting ready to give his life for the sins of the world. He knew where he was going. He must have taken one look at those guys sitting there with dirty feet and started shaking his head.
He took off his outer garment, wrapped a towel around himself and started washing feet. Just imagine the shock and consternation of the disciples. How uncomfortable they must have felt. The Son of God, the Messiah, was washing their dirty feet!
Peter drew back his feet and exclaimed, “Never!” Jesus simply said to him that if you really want to be a part of what I am doing, then you must allow me to wash your feet. Peter relented and Jesus finished.
“Do you understand what I have done for you?” Jesus asked. I really don’t think they did. In fact, it might have never really occurred to them until after his ascension into heaven. Jesus demonstrated a new way to lead. These men were to be the leaders in the Kingdom. Jesus opened a new door dominated by love.

Matthew 20:20-28

Greatness Is Serving

20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.
21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?”
She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”
22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”[a]
They said to Him, “We are able.”
23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with;[b] but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”


John 13:1-17; 34, 35

John 13
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2 And supper being ended,[a] the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”
7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”
Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”