Click here for the John 13:12-17 Podcast
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. ~ John 13:12-17
One of the biggest mistakes we make when reading Scripture is that we read it as spectators. We mistakenly think of the Scripture as a collection of stories and events that took place thousands of years ago. We must view the ancient stories as our stories, because they are our stories. We are in the narrative. We are Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Rebekah, Moses, Isaiah, Ruth, Peter, Paul, and John. The scriptures are our story. To read them as a mere spectator looking on is to miss the point. Scripture is our story. As we read it, we must enter into it.
Their questions are our questions which are fuel to our pursuits and our passions. A fair count of the questions the Lord Jesus used in the Gospels renders at least 100. Questions are most often unwanted. Yet, questions are essential to our walk with the Lord. Questions are designed to make us think and seek.
In today's text, the Lord Jesus asked, "Do you understand what I have done for you?" The Lord Jesus is saying there is more to the washing your feet than you realize. The application of the Lord Jesus previous statement was quite different for each disciple, especially Judas. He was at the crossroads of betraying the Lord Jesus. The washing of the feet of the disciples was a symbol of something far more important, a vital principle in the kingdom of God.
In v.15 we read, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." The word "as" is a translation of the Greek word kathos, which means "according as." If He were establishing footwashing as a pattern of ritual to be practiced in the church, He would have used the Greek word ho, which means "that which." Then He would have been saying, "I have given you an example that you should do what I have done to you."
He is not saying "Do the same thing I have done"; He is saying, "Behave in the same manner as I have behaved." The example we are to follow is not the washing of feet, it is His humility. The humility of the Lord Jesus is the real lesson in this passage.
The result of that kind of humility is always loving service—doing the humiliating tasks for the glory of Jesus Christ. That demolishes most of the popular ideas of what constitutes spirituality.
In addition, the Lord Jesus was teaching His disciples this principle: "real authority comes from loving service.” A true leader will always be engaged as a servant.
Years ago, when I was teaching Bible to eleventh graders at a local Christian school, I asked the class what a leader was. A young Chinese student who did not talk much in class blew us all away with one simple word. He said, "empathy." I was silenced. Then we had a great discussion about leadership which begins with feeling with those who are following.
Sadly, we live in a culture which is preoccupied with self, which will always prevent us from being others minded. The Lord Jesus taught he who serves wins the hearts of others. They will obey the servant leader, because he loves them and serves them.
Notice what the Lord Jesus said in v.16-17. "16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." The emphasis is on doing. It is not enough to teach it, to hold it as a mental principle, but to do it, to serve.
To be fulfilled and happy, we must develop a servant's heart. This begins with being His servants first, otherwise, we will quickly get exhausted. The Lord Jesus reminds us that "the servant is not greater than his master." The Lord Jesus stepped down from a position of deity to become a man, humbled Himself to be our servant. He is the servant of undeserving sinners. His choice emanated out of His relationship with the Father. So must ours, as well.
