“True character is never verbalized”
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
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 13:1-17
In verse 4 it says, “so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.” Outer clothing usually revealed your authority and status and it would be deemed undignified to serve others wearing the outer garment. By doing these things, Jesus was laying down all his boundaries to humble himself. He made himself equal to them by being born in the flesh and then humbled himself even lower to serve them. He did not lower himself below them in authority but set an example for servitude through leadership. All are equal in the kingdom of heaven and all serve each other. No one is above service. In Philippians 2:6 it says (regarding Jesus) “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;” Jesus knew of great authority but also, great humbleness. We can be raised in authority but we should never raise ourselves above anyone else in service.
After Jesus had washed their feet, he put back on his garment and sat down, reclaiming his place of authority as he asked them what was the meaning of his service. This is important to us as we work to be like Jesus. We do not have to give up who we are personally or who we are as a Christian. Our humble service is who we should be anyway. The more you are a leader within the body of Christ, the more you should be an example and serve others. Jesus states that no servant is greater than his master. If Jesus does it, should should we.
Jesus did not ask permission to wash their feet, nor did he tell them what he was going to do, he just began to do it. In contrast, the Pharisees told of what they were going to do even before they did it so to be heard and seen by men. Actions of humbleness should not be talked about but merely done. To verbalize means you are looking for a way out. How many times do we tell others if they need help let us know? Jesus just ascertains the need and takes action. True character is never verbalized.
So amazing was his character and his respect for humbleness that he even washed the very feet of the man that was to betray him with full knowledge of what was to happen. In this we can take a valuable lesson. We still serve our enemies, though at times this can be difficult. The reward is in the fact that we do the right thing, not in the end result.
In fact, we have an accountability to do the right thing. The prophet Ezekiel was instructed by God to proclaim to the wicked or he would be responsible for their destruction. Ezekiel 33:7-9 states:
7 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.”
Jesus was not accountable for Judas blood, Judas was. Jesus was a true watchman and so can we. Servitude is not something we should think about or try to do. It is something we are responsible for and commanded by the very words of Jesus in verse 14. James 4:17 states:
If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
Do you pass by someone on the street that needs help? this then, is a sin. Do you ignore a plea for help from the congregation? Do you keep material wealth for yourself when others have more need of it? These all are sins according to James.
It is easier to think about what you have not done when thinking of your own righteousness. I have not sinned today because my normal vices that trump my conscious did not persuade me to sin! Are you sure? What good did you not do today? We are not under legalism and James did not intend this to be. However, it should convict your soul to open your eyes to the world around you that you should be serving.
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