Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. (Luke 22:24)
The twelve disciples were no different than anyone else, which was probably a great frustration to Jesus, but also an encouragement to the rest of us, because of the many opportunities it gave Him to teach them and us important life lessons. He had previously dealt with a similar issue with them, when James and John's mother came requesting of Him to, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” (Matthew 20:21) At that time, Jesus responded, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:41-45; Matthew 20:24-28); see THE GOSPEL: Want to be Great? First, Have to be a Servant)
Jesus responded in a similar way here. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” [Revelation 21:14] (Luke 22:25-30) A great reward is coming for all of us; If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. (II Timothy 2:12) But while we're here, Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4)
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. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 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. (John 13:1-5) WOW! What a beautiful example of serving others.
Jesus doesn't just tell us what to do, but He always demonstrated it by doing it Himself, even that ...He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (I John 3:16) "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." (John 15:13) Laying down our lives doesn't just mean dying physically, but it also means dying from our position of self righteousness, authority and superiority. During biblical times, the people's feet got very dirty because they mostly traveled by walking on dirt roads and paths. That's why frequently throughout scripture we'll read that people made sure to have water available, so that when someone came they could wash their feet. For the people who were better off, they would have a servant to wash the feet. Even though Jesus is greater, he who sits at the table, "Yet I am among you as the One who serves."
Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” 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.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” 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.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” (John 13:6-11) Gotta love outspoken Peter! From one extreme to another within seconds. But yet again, he is a great encouragement to all of us. No matter how much we think we know or understand, Jesus always has more to teach us, if we'll just let Him.
The disciples were "clean" because they and we who believe in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord are clean, because ...Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,... (Ephesians 5:25-26) The washing of the feet only was to symbolize the act of serving others, which is our responsibility as a Christian, a believer and follower of Christ Jesus. 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? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 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. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:12-17)
Jesus was and is our perfect example! Now, we have to be obedient followers. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ... But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:19-25) If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them! AMEN!
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