Lessons from John 13: Follow Jesus and Serve Others in Love with Humility

Let me ask you: Have you come to Jesus and been bathed in His forgiveness through acceptance of His life-giving blood on the cross?

Then you, my friend, have indeed received His gift of salvation! You are now a part of the family of God. That’s the good news of the gospel!

Yet while we remain in these earthly tents, we are still bent on sinning. Therefore, we need to come before His throne of grace on a regular basis. We need to seek His forgiveness of our sins.

Yes, it’s true Jesus loves us just as we are. But He never intended that we remain that way! He is constantly at work in our lives through the conviction and teaching of the Holy Spirit. He lives in each believer to bring about our purification and sanctification. To make us holy as He is holy!

When was the last time you sought the Savior and the cleansing of your sins?

Jesus stated that all of them were clean, all except one! Jesus knows the heart and mind of every man, woman, boy, and girl and He knew Judas and what he was about to do! Though Judas had lived with Jesus and the disciples and witnessed the miracles and heard Jesus’ teachings, he refused to turn from his wicked ways and Jesus knew it!

Yet, Jesus loved Judas, just like He loved the others. He had washed Judas’ feet as an outward expression of His love for him. But Judas did not love Jesus in return.

Jesus then explained to His disciples His example of washing their feet.

In verse 12 we are told that when Jesus had finished washing their feet, He laid aside His servant’s clothing and got dressed. He returned to His rightful place at the table and asked His disciples, “Do you understand what I have done for you?”

Jesus wanted them to understand that His example of washing their feet was a picture of the cleansing He would accomplish on the cross. It was also a picture of the way Jesus wanted His followers to take care of others.

And so, Jesus explained to them that they rightfully call Him, “Teacher” and “Lord,” for that is what He is. Now that He, their Lord and Teacher, washed their feet, they should do it for others.

You see, if even He, God in the flesh, was willing to serve, we as His followers must also be servants. We must willingly serve in any way that glorifies God.

The question is, are you willing to follow Christ’s example and serve where He is calling you? Are you willing to lay aside your rights, and your excuses, and follow as He leads?

Jesus continued His explanation of His willingness to serve in verse 16 by stating, “Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”

There is no greater way to go up than to go down. We as believers go down in humility knowing we are not able to do anything for God’s kingdom without His enabling power. Therefore we go down in mind, body, and spirit before the Lord. He lifts us up and equips and enables us to do the things He has called us to do. To do otherwise is to work in our own strength and power. This will run us dry and cause us to be weary and weak and probably fail.

But when we go down before the Lord and confess our weakness and seek His power and His strength, He lifts us up. He moves us forward and meets our needs in ways that we could never think or imagine. This is how He receives glory, honor, and praise.

Believers are called to follow Jesus and serve others in love with humility.

Terri Hamman

Faith & Fitness Coach