The Story: John 13: 2-17 (NLT) 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.” Cool story, right? So what’s the deal with Peter’s response? Maybe, if you’re like me and Peter, you need to separate the act from the heart behind the act to learn the lesson. Jesus was showing us, not just telling us, what our lives would look like. Serve. Put others first. Be humble. Remember that the Bible says “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” If Jesus was willing to live and die for others, how can we expect to live any other way? Peter realized all this when Jesus said, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” That’s why Peter did a complete 180-degree turn. He wanted to belong to Jesus. That’s my heart cry too! Of course, Jesus didn’t engage the back and forth pendulum swing of Peter’s understanding. Rather, Jesus showed consistency, balance, purpose and truth. When Peter objected, he was not seeing the big picture. First it was about him, then it was… about him again. Jesus was patiently trying to show Peter and the other disciples that no matter how great someone is, they need to serve others. It’s interesting that none of the others stepped up to wash feet, even though they all (well, most of them) knew, believed, and accepted that Jesus was the Son of God. They didn’t get that they needed to be servant leaders, and not just Jesus followers.

The Secret to Happiness

There is a truth that we all need to learn as well. When we serve others as Jesus did, we will actually be happy. We will actually be fulfilled. When we pour out to others, Jesus fills us back up! I call this a secret because people usually think happiness comes from getting, not from giving. But this story also goes WAY deeper than just teaching Peter to think properly. I have read this several times over my life (usually around Easter), but there was a time where I was reading this story and I was stopped in my tracks by a reality I had never thought about before. I almost threw the Bible as if to distance myself from it, from the reality I knew instantly that I had to face and accept. My humanity needed a good slap in the face. Why did I need to ‘distance myself’ from it? Let this reality soak in: Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, and yet He still washed Judas’ feet. Jesus served him. With care. Jesus served him with such genuineness to the point that the others didn’t know it was Judas who would betray Jesus. That means Jesus washed Judas’ feet with the same care and attention that He showed to all the other disciples when He washed their feet – even though He knew Judas would betray Him! Peter had a lot to learn about humbly serving others. Clearly, I do too. Like Jesus, would I do a good and thorough job of washing all of their feet including Judas? I don’t know for sure. Part of me says no. In my humanity, I have to admit that my answer is no. Is my serving conditional? If so, then it’s not serving. The heart behind this is the real issue. Jesus’ heart showed what serving was all about when He washed Judas’ nasty, disgusting, and betraying feet. Are we willing to do whatever it takes to bring Jesus to a lost and dying world? Are we willing to lay down our pride, our position and serve those that God sets in our path? Jesus was. Then He told the disciples that they were to go and do the same. This directive applies to us too. We are to humble ourselves and serve others no matter the cost. Serve. Always. Serving others is serving God. He calls us to serve – it fulfills our purpose. He gave us the example of serving. We don’t serve to show others how holy we are, or for them to think better of us. We don’t do it for a positive response from others. Each time we serve, however, we are taking steps to follow Jesus. When we serve, we need to have pure motives. “Blessed are the pure in heart – for they will see God” – Jesus said this in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5).

The last shall be first, and the first shall be last

I’ve had the amazing opportunity to be in ministry for most of the last 35 years. There’s one universal truth that has applied way before me and will always be true. Do you want to be good at ministry? Get good at setting up tables & chairs. Get good at cleaning toilets & washing dishes. Vacuum for Jesus! This serving by cleaning and setting up/tearing down is half of ministry, and it always will be. All these things need to happen to create an environment where people can feel welcome and see the heart of Jesus. Also remember that no job is more important than others. Obedience is the key. I remember one week at church I had an opportunity to preach the Sunday morning sermon. It was an awesome privilege, and I love being used by God in this way. The next week, about halfway through first service my wife found me and said “The toilet in kids ministry is overflowing. I need you to take care of it.” It was an awesome privilege and I love being used by God in this… Just kidding! I really didn’t want to do it. For a brief moment I tried to think of a way out, but that thought passed just as quickly and I did it anyway. That’s serving, and it was surely a good way to make sure I didn’t get too prideful from the week before! To be used by Jesus we need to remember that the important things are: – A willingness to serve humbly wherever there is need – Using your gifts God has given you, but also being stretched out of your comfort zone as the Lord leads – Being thankful and having a great attitude while we are serving We all need to remember and live these words out of Philippians 2 (NLT): 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. If you want to lead worship in front of the whole church, are you willing to lead worship with a class of 4-year olds? If you want to preach rousing sermons that stir the hearts of the masses, are you willing to talk with and lead a middle schooler to Jesus? Are you willing to host and lead a small group? Are you willing to clean the church property? I could make a huge list of things that people do every week, anonymously, to serve others. But God sees these things. Keep this verse in mind: Matthew 25:21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Faithful. Humble. Available. Do these words describe you? If not, there is time to change, and Jesus will show you how, just like He showed Peter. Revival comes, not when perfect people obey laws and isolate themselves in devotion to God, but when we become the hands and feet of Jesus reaching out to the people that need Him. When the body of Christ is carrying out the heart of God, He is there, He is glorified, and in His presence is revival. When we truly become followers of Christ, we die to our old selves. We die to our human nature and its desires, and we desire a relationship with our Father, our God. As part of this dying to self, we become servant leaders. A servant leader has a balance of boldness and humility. Not bold for his/her own sake, but bold for Jesus while remaining humble. Showing mercy and grace, but not compromising. We are called to sacrifice our own comfort and ego so that others may truly know Him.

Those Who Disagree

What about those who disagree with us, or are hostile to us? This was answered when Jesus washed Judas’ feet. I imagine Peter had a similar reaction as I did when he realized that Jesus still washed the feet of someone who was planning to betray Him. I’m so glad the Apostle Paul wrote these words in Romans 5:8 While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Truly loving someone (anyone) should be to serve them and compassionately but firmly point to the truth. Point to the love of God. Point to the future and what will happen when they meet God their creator, their sustainer, and ultimately their judge. Sitting back and waiting for them to ‘burn’ is not love – even if it is what they are asking for. God has made it clear what His standards are, and He created those standards for what is in our best interest. If someone has no interest in God, then God will give them their wish – separation from Him for eternity in hell. Nobody is completely separated from God now. What is really loving, then? What is really representing Jesus, then? To let people run off and die in the end? We need to serve others by showing them real love. By showing them God’s love. We need to practice serving with joy, and with eternity in mind. Jesus set the example for us.

It’s a Mess

Washing feet is not pretty. Jumping into the mess of someone’s life may not be pretty, but neither were we when Jesus sacrificed His life for us. Jesus didn’t stay in His comfort zone. He humbled Himself and remained humble. He was light coming into darkness. Yet no one lived with more joy, and no one lived with more authority than Jesus. No one lived with more resolve, more love, more grace, more truth than Jesus. How about us? Let’s remember these things as we move forward serving others – even those who don’t agree with us:

IT’S NOT A SACRIFICE IF IT’S EASY IT’S NOT SERVING IF WE EXPECT SOMETHING IN RETURN BE THANKFUL – A SERVANT WHO IS NOT THANKFUL IS JUST A MISERABLE WORKER

God Bless!

(This post is an excerpt from the upcoming book “Jesus and Peter – Becoming a Disciple”)

Other blog posts you might like:

•  Forgiveness, Mercy, and Grace– What’s the Difference?
• 3 Bible Verses Showing How God Really Sees You
• 6 Steps on the Path to Following Jesus