This past week I have been studying John 13, the account of Christ washing His disciples’ feet.  This account and the admonition to serve others as Christ served is one I’ve heard frequently, but this past week I saw this account from a different perspective. 

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.” John 13:1-11 (NASB)

What stood out to me was the beginning of this chapter – Jesus knew that He was going to be betrayed, so He got up and washed His disciples’ feet.  I don’t know about you, but if I knew that one of my close friends was going to betray me and I was going to be crucified, I don’t think I would feel like washing feet.  Especially if one of the people I was serving was that betrayer.  And yet this chapter says that Jesus loved His disciples “to the end.” 

What a beautiful picture of the gospel!  Jesus knew that one of His disciples would betray Him, and the rest would desert Him (see John 16:32), and yet He still loved them and washed their feet.  In the same way, Christ died on the cross for us, the guilty sinners who put Him there, and He still loved us (see Rom. 5:8).  What a humbling reminder of how amazing Christ’s love is for us. 

So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” John 13:12-17

Jesus calls us to follow His example, to wash one another’s feet, and He says we are blessed if we do so.  To be honest, 2020 has made this feel a whole lot harder.  The hardships of this year have made following Jesus feel more serious.  He is the hope this world needs.  But how do you serve and show love to people when they’re afraid and isolated?  How do you love and serve when people are connecting virtually, and somehow the virtual connections still feel like disconnection?  I don’t have the answers to these questions, but I do know that Jesus’ words are still the same in 2020 as they were in 2019, in 2000, and back when Jesus first spoke them.  We are still called to love and serve one another as Christ did for us. 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Our love for one another, our following Christ’s example, shows people that we are Christians.  People are watching our words, our actions, and our interactions.  Are we displaying Jesus’ love to a world that desperately needs Him? 

This last week I made a children’s video for my church encouraging them to be the light of the world and reflect Christ’s light to others (see Matt. 5:14-16).  I’d like to extend that challenge to us.  Let’s shine the light of Christ to others through our love and our service.  It will take prayer and creativity as we look for ways to serve as we end this weird year, but it is worth the extra effort to follow Christ’s example.  Let’s end 2020 shining brightly. 

With love,

Kelsey