Go And Do Likewise

“For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.” – John 13.15, CSB

The walls flickered with the light of the candles and lanterns that lit the upper room. They had gathered to observe the festival set by God in remembrance of how he had delivered the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. And while it may have been “another Passover” for every other Israelite, this one for Jesus and his followers was much different. The Passover lamb of the Passover meal pointed to the Lamb of God who reclined at the table with them, who was about to be sacrificed on the cross for the sin of the world. The mood was somber, and Jesus’ countenance was different, being troubled in spirit (John 13.21). And then Jesus did something that shocked each one of his disciples.

Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him. – John 13.3-5, CSB

It was common for people to wash their feet when they entered a home. But if the host of a home provided the washing of feet, it was usually done by a servant. But on this night with his disciples, the Son of God took the role of the servant and washed his disciples’ feet. All of his disciples. Alicia Britt Chole made this point in her book, “40 Days of Decrease.” “At the table, Jesus washed the feet of a betrayer, a denier, and ten deserters.”*

The disciples would have been reclining during the meal, lying on their stomachs, leaning on their left elbow with their feet behind them. Jesus would have walked behind each disciple, knelt down, and washed their feet. And as he came up to each disciple, he already knew what they would do in his greatest time of need. The devil had already tempted Judas to betray Jesus (John 13.2), and Jesus washed his feet. Jesus knew that Peter would later deny him three times before the morning rooster crowed (John 13.38), and Jesus washed his feet. Jesus knew that each one of the other ten disciples whom he had called to follow him would desert him (Mark 14.27), and Jesus washed their feet.

And this is the example that Jesus gave us. We are called to serve others, regardless of what they have done or what they might do, because that’s what Jesus did. We are to be quick to jump in to help, even if no one else helps us, because that’s what Jesus did. We are to humble ourselves and care for others first, because that’s what Jesus did. We are to embrace and practice humility, because that’s what Jesus did. We are to willingly and joyfully serve one another, because that’s what Jesus did. We are to forgive each other, even before we’ve wronged one another, because that’s what Jesus did. As followers of Jesus, we do not take our cues from what others are doing. Instead, we take our cues from what Jesus did and do likewise. 

“Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them” (John 13.16-17, CSB).

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* Alicia Britt Chole. 40 Days of Decrease : A Lenten Journey for Those Hungry for a Different Kind of Fast. Nashville, W Publishing Group, An Imprint Of Thomas Nelson, 2016.

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