Pastor Cory Smithee
John 13:3–5 (ESV) 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:6–9 (ESV) 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!
John 13:12 (ESV) 12a When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them…
John 13:12–17 (ESV) 12b “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Penned Truth: To serve like Jesus means to be a servant who authentically cares about people, inside the community of faith and outside.
Matthew 20:28 (ESV) 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Rick Warren once said, “The only way you can serve God is by serving other people.”
Rick Warren said, “The towel and basin are mightier than the sword.”
· Foot washing was the work of enslaved people—a smelly, humiliating business.
Philippians 2:4 (ESV) 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Penned Truth: Paul the Apostle frequently emphasizes his status as a servant of Christ and his commitment to serving others by identifying himself as a “bondservant” or “slave” of Jesus Christ.
Unselfishness | Dictionary of Bible Themes: Putting the concerns and interests of others before one’s own.
· Foot washing exposes the heart.
Penned Truth: Washing feet (Serving People) reveals who we are before God.
C.S. Lewis defined humility this way, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
Philippians 2:3-5 (AMP) 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. 4 Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility],
· When we focus on caring for people, God takes care of the rest.
· Caring for people is about expanding the Kingdom of God- not just a church.
· If you are a Christian, you are called to wash someone’s feet. (Serve People)
· We must die to ourselves and serve others.
Luke Lezon said, “It’s hard to throw stones if you’re busy washing feet. Keep loving people like Christ.”
A New Declaration: I am not waiting to be served but to serve. Why? Because that is how Jesus lived His life.
Final Statement: To serve like Jesus means to be a servant who authentically cares about people. To serve like Jesus means to keep our eyes, hearts, and schedules open for His divine appointments. Jesus was led by the Spirit of God and followed His promptings to serve, love, and help people the best He could, not the least He could. No task was ever beneath Jesus, and no person was ever unworthy. Who is it that God is calling you to serve, love, and help today, this week, in the next hour? Go! You will be glad you did.
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