For many, love means grand, romantic gestures. These gestures can be a husband giving his wife a dozen red roses or a wife surprising her husband with a special, unexpected gift. Grand gestures can be a way to show love, but when we turn to Scripture, we see a different example of what genuine, Christ-like love looks like. This way of loving is counter-cultural; it’s different from the way the world views love. You see, Scripture teaches us that true love involves serving, especially our spouses, for those who are married.
Jesus did not just teach His followers that love means serving others; He showed it in John 13. This passage of Scripture records some of Jesus' final moments with His disciples. In this passage of Scripture, He was gathered with His disciples to have a final meal with them. Before they began eating, Jesus did something that shocked His disciples. He got up from the table they were at and began washing the feet of His disciples. Today, such a display would be unusual. For Jesus' disciples, it was shocking. You see, in Jesus' day, people wore sandals everywhere as they walked. Remember, there were no paved roads. As a result, people's feet became very dirty as they walked outside, especially when traveling. As a result, a hired servant in many homes was responsible for washing the feet of the home's guests. By washing His disciples' feet, Jesus was taking on the role of a servant. Imagine the King of all kings, kneeling to the ground, taking on the role of servant, and washing the feet of His disciples. After He finished washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus said to His disciples, “Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you" (verses 14-15). Jesus' message was clear. His disciples (and future followers) were also to view themselves as servants and live a lifestyle of serving those around them.
This passage of Scripture, calling us to serve others, is not new. We know that Jesus calls us to serve others. Our call today is to examine our own hearts. Do we have the mindset of a servant? You see, living this way means thinking differently from the rest of the world. It means putting aside our own needs and desires to serve those around us. Are you willing to take on Jesus' call to serve others around you, starting with your spouse, today?
With the Scripture you read today in mind, set out to serve someone in your life today. If you are married, let it be your spouse. Go out of your way to serve today, following in the footsteps of your Savior.
1Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”
9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”
10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
