Better Than

Better Than

In the thirteenth chapter of John’s gospel the setting is the “Last Supper.” Jesus knew “the hour had come for him to leave this world…” so He got up and served His friends.

The idea of service in our American culture is pretty twisted. It used to be that a “tip” was something you left for someone because they’d gone above and beyond. Nowadays the cashier at Starbucks has a tip jar sitting out for simply ringing up your order. We don’t have the slightest inkling as a culture as to what it means to actually serve others.

That’s why we have such difficulty with Jesus’ actions here. God incarnate, Immanuel, the King of Kings, and the LORD of Lords was about to be arrested, scourged, and crucified, but rather than kick back and be served - as would be fitting for Him as God - instead, He served.

We read, “he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”

Jesus had no tip-jar, no ulterior motive that would benefit Him directly. Our Redeemer King started washing feet for the benefit of humanity and the glory of the Father.

When Jesus got to Peter, Peter just couldn’t get past the idea of the Christ performing such a lowly task, which led him to say to Jesus, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus quickly responded, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”  “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Peter thought, as many people still do, identification with Jesus had something to do with the water ceremony - rather than understanding the central truth of selfless, altruistic, loving service.

Jesus wasn’t the LORD of ceremony, but rather the LORD of life. The things that Jesus taught weren’t mystical rituals to be practiced within the halls of musty, creepy, dark buildings with incense rank in the air. No, the things that Jesus lived out every hour of His perfect life - even when “the hour had come for him to leave this world” - were to be lived out by His TRUE followers, His authentic disciples.

To clarify any uncertainty, Jesus said to them “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

Jesus demonstrated that there is no moment in our lives when it is appropriate to be selfish, egotistical, greedy, or narcissistic. The hour had come for Him, and He served, and served, and served - even with His final breath.

Christians have a crude habit of filling our spiritual time with Bible studies, podcast sermons, etc., without ever putting any of it into practice. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.”

Why are you still waiting to put that into practice? In your marriage…  with your kids…  your parents…  your co-workers…  Why? Is it because you’re waiting until you’ll be recognized or rewarded for it?

Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” So let’s stop consuming, stop receiving, stop taking in… and instead live out the words of Jesus and the truth of Scripture in simple obedience…

“...thinking of others as better than yourselves.”

Blessings,

-Kevin