S—Servanthood

Journey through the Gospel of John from A to Z with rookie bloggers who are seeking to honor their good friend, Tina Downey.

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of his love.
—John 13:1

Jesus knew that this was His last evening with His disciples. He knew their hearts, and the hard road that lay ahead of them. In these final moments with his closest companions, He deliberately chooses to live out a parable to illustrate the nature of His ministry and the work that He was about to do on the cross.

Just as Jesus had laid aside His glory to be born among men, He now lays aside His garments and takes on the appearance of a servant. And then He cleanses their basest parts.

The evening meal was being served... so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  
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.

He came to Simon Peter, 

Peter:     Lord, are you going to
               wash my feet?
Jesus:    You don't realize now what I am doing, 
               but you'll understand later.
Peter:     No! You shall never wash my feet.
Jesus:    Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.

His followers wouldn't understand until later that the work on the cross was just such an act. And that His sacrifice could wash away their sin. 

Jesus went further in His instruction. They were to love one another as He loved them.

...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? ... 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.

Jesus, the only begotten of the Father, was showing them how a child of God must live. That His followers would now enjoy a new relationship with God is made patently clear from the outset of this gospel.

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12-13  

Are you following Jesus' call to lay down your life and to love others?