Devotions for Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Let’s read John 13:1-17
1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Pastor Ben’s Commentary
This true telling of Jesus washing the disciples feet happens in the upper room on the night before Jesus was taken to be crucified.
v.1-3- speak of Jesus’ full understanding of who He was and what He had come to do. At that moment, Jesus understood that He had full authority and power to do what God had called Him to do.
v.4-5 speaks of Jesus washing the disciples feet. This was a service that was desireable because of the dusty condition of the roads and paths that people would walk on, but because of the filthiness of the task it was always reserved for slaves.
v.6-11- Peter wants to refuse Jesus from washing Him. Jesus says you must allow me or your not part of me.
v.12-17- Jesus helps these men understand that if He has served them in this incredible way, then they ought to serve each other.
Application:
1. We ought to serve each other!
In the church there is no place for a hierarchy that has one group of people always being served by another group of people because the privileged group is in leadership. Everyone must serve. Everyone must be served. Our motivation is to glorify God in our service.
2. Your service, like Jesus, will be viewed as an example.
Everything we do tells everyone who sees us what we believe, and value. When you serve others, you tell people that they are important and valued. When I serve my wife, she knows I love her. When I serve at my church, I tell my neighbors that there is something that I believe. Most importantly, when I obey God in serving others, I’m telling Him that I love Him and want to be obedient to His will.
Do you have a servant attitude? Are you quick to serve others? Who and where are you serving?
Study the Scriptures with Ben Jennings 
This passage is a very well known passage of the washing of the disciples feet. Jesus is being an example to what He expects of His disciples to do after He leaves. Its a very pivotal moments for this group of men for sure. Jesus has taught these men to be servants all along His ministry but He emphasized it again before He went to the cross. It seemed like He wanted them to know His heart when it comes to how we treat people.
One of the other things I thought is an amazing thing was that Jesus knew what Judas was going to do and yet it seemed as though He treated him the same. Jesus still loved those who betrayed Him. I think this also is something to take into consideration. One of the closest friends betrayed Him nearly to His face. I think sometimes when our friends betray our trust that we dismiss them and cut them off completely but Jesus still loved Judas fully knowing what he was going to do. I think if Jesus can forgive His friends and enemies for the wrong things they do then we should take on a Christlikeness and forgive others too. Jesus died for people who hated Him I think we can forgive someone who loses our trust.
On to other things, my application is to have a more servants heart. I think sometimes it’s easier to serve those we don’t know over those we do know. That should not be. I want to be a better servant to my Lord, husband, family, church, and friends. I want people to see Christ in me and in my life.
Wow Megan- What great insight into this passage and great applications. Can you imagine washing the feet of the person who will bear part of the weight of responsibility for your death?
I think you’re amazingly servant hearted already. You do so much for so many people and I am grateful to you.
You’re still preaching! AMEN!
This passage is cool because it shows that even though Jesus was the perfect person, and someone who was so much greater than all of them, He washed the disciples feet. His example showed that no matter what “social class” your in, we are to serve eachother. Jesus thought of everyone but Himself, which i think is awesome!
I think where i serve is at church. I love helping anyone who needs help, and im willing to do stuff around the church to make someone else’s life a little easier! I love serving God, and i want to do it even more!!
What Megan said was so right. Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him, yet He washed his feet. Thats crazy! Jesus was that loving that He did that, and that’s an example i think we should all live by. It’s not easy, but it’s what Jesus would do! This is a great example that we as Christians should live by. 🙂
Good stuff Lindsey. I love to see you grow. Keep up the good work!
Thanks! 🙂
Sorry I haven’t been commenting my Internet has been down. But I agree w/ Lindsey! 🙂 thts totally right. Even thought Jesus was and still is the perfect person he was on his hands and knees washing the disciples feet. Now thts amazing! I am serving at the church. Just like Lindsey I love to help people to! 🙂 I love doing things for and around the Church! 🙂 I am going to the room remodel! I’m gonna help out as much as I can! 🙂 thts what I got out of it today! 🙂
Thats awesome Tristian, im proud of you 🙂
This goes along with what we talked about in connection group about serving, and doing it with a good attitude. I think its important that we remember Christianity is to be Christ like and Christ was a servant so we also need to be servants.
We did talk about this! Good point!
Sorry I don’t know what to write! 😦
Don’t really get this storie
Try reading some of our comments and see if that helps. I know some of them are long, but sometimes reading others helps! If you still don’t get it I’ll help you! 🙂
It really does help if you read the comments. I read the comments and it has worked really well for me! 😀
thnx melanie and kendra 🙂
okay Jesus showed his disciples that he loved them by washing his feet, but couldnt he have done something more extraordinary??
He washed the disciples feet to show them that serving is important! It was so important that He did it the night before He was taken to be crucified. He showed them that by washing their feet no one is too important to serve. Even Jesus served others! Make sense?
& in addition to the story Judas, one of the disciples was about to betray Jesus and even though Jesus knew this, He washed his feet just as He did to the others. Jesus didn’t seek revenge, He treated Judas just as Jesus treated the others.
Hope that helped!
What Jesus is saying is that If you don’t let him wash your feet you’r not apart of him and what Jesus won’ts is to serve you and for you to be with him. I think I had no help so I am not shure that is right, is it? That is what I learned! 😀
You’re right! Jesus told Peter that is he wouldn’t let Jesus wash his feet then he was not apart of Him, because Jesus was trying to make a point to all of His disciples. He was trying to get them to understand how important serving is and that when Jesus is gone they need to continue to serve God and others. That’s what we are supposed to do today. We are supposed to be servants and serve others to the glory of God, just as Jesus did! Hope that made a little more sense!
Thakyou Melanie! 🙂
Anytime! 🙂
This passage is very clear that Jesus wanted His disciples to serve Him and each other after He was gone. Peter didn’t want Jesus to wash his feet because He felt like that was not right, but Jesus told Peter that if you do not let me was your feet you are no part of me. Jesus had served people and was teaching His disciples to serve the entire time He was on earth. He wanted HIs disciples to learn that serving was very important. I think it’s also a reminder of how important serving was to Him because that was what Jesus showed His disciples the night before He was taken to be cruicified. That should show us today how important serving really is. I know I serve a lot in the church, but I feel like there is always room to do better and serve even more. I want to continue to serve others in the church and especially in the youth group. I also think it’s important for me to not only have a serving attitude at church, but to bring that with me wherevever I go. I think it would be cool if I could serve my friends at school and not because it’s the right thing to do, but because I love them and I want to show Christ through my actions all the time!
I think what Megan said about Judas isvery important. Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray Him, but instead of trying to seek revenge and going to Judas with the wrong mindset, Jesus treated Judas just as He did to all the other disciples. This really blows my mind and really makes me think about how selfish I can be at times. Knowing that Jesus knew what Judas was about to do, and He still treated Judas right and still loved him, makes me feel like a complete failure. I know in the past when someone has done wrong to me my first instinct was anger and sometimes even hatred.. Seeking revenge always seemed like a good idea, but in reality its total WRONG idea! Forgiveness is the only way to go. It says in the bible that we are supposed to forgive even if we have to forgive someone 7 times 70 times. When you think about it that’s a lot of chances to give someone, but that’s what Jesus wants us to do and if you have the right attitude and really forgive someone in your heart you realize those hurt feelings really weren’t worth it. I know I was mad at someone for a while about something so stupid, but the second I forgave her, I realized there is so much more to life then being mad at someone forever. If God can forgive and forget why can’t I? I think we all need to start trying to do this rather then get into so many conflicts and potentially lose friends, cause trust me, it’s the worst!
I believe that if we all start having the right attitude about serving others, and really doing things to honor and glorfiy God, I know our youth group can do some powerful things! I’m ready, what about you guys?
Very cool Melanie.
Thanks! 🙂
Thanks Lindsey!!! 🙂
Anytime 🙂
I’m so proud of you guys. Many of you have been on here every day since we started doing your devotions and i think it is so cool.
So here is my question- Who needs to be on here? Who needs to move to the GROW stage that you can influence to do this? What do you guys think?
I love this passage! Christ is the ultimate servant! The point Megan made was great Jesus washed the feet of Judas the man that was about to betray him to be murdered. It just shows how forgiving Christ was and when I think about it Jesus forgave me and I had just as much of a hand in putting Jesus on that cross as Judas did! I dont think we should ever get over the amount Christ has forgiven me I love it! The thing that interested me today was who’s feet Christ was washing! He was washing the feet of, fisherman, a tax-collector, a doctor! These were people in society who were not very high up, you could say they werent cool! Yet Jesus chose to use them and washed their feet! It amazes me that Christ is a servant to me that is so humbling! We are to be servants just like Christ was . Sometimes its easy to serve people we like or people we love, like our friends in youth group, but Jesus didnt just serve the people that loved him or the people that followed Him. So we shouldnt just serve the people in our youth group< you should have a servants heart toward your parents and your siblings and people at school that make fun of you! I think this is one of the best ways for us to display Christ to the people around us, everyone is so concerned with themselves, so when we are focused on being servants to others we will be different, and display Christ to the world around us!
THIS STORY ISN’TMAKING MUCH SENCE TO ME BUT I WILL TRY MY BEST…… WELL WHAT GOT FROM THIS STORY WAS THAT JESUS WAS WASHING THERE FEET BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE THEN A PART OF HIM BUT PETER WANTED NOT TO LET JESUS WASH HIS SO THEN GOD SAID PETER WOULDNT BE A PART OF HIM SO PETER THEN LET GOD WASH HIS FEET. WHAT THIS REMINDS ME OF IS GETTING BAPTISED BECAUSE JESUS IS WASHING THERE FEET SO THEY CAN BE A PART OF AS WE GET BAPTISED SO WE CAN BE A PART OF HIM. BUT I ALSO THINK IT’S COOL THAT GOD WILL ACCEPT US NO MATTER WHAT WE DO AND SAME WENT TO PETER.
Andrew, the point Jesus made about Peter “having no part of me” if Jesus couldn’t wash Peter’s feet wasn’t so much about Peter “belonging” to Jesus as much as it was about having some part of the ministry of Jesus going forward. I am going to post a comment next that will explain what I mean a little more…I am proud of you and your effort! You most certainly will grow a great deal as you hang in there. Ask questions when you have them. Read Pastor Ben’s comments about the scripture passages, and the comments of the others, then read the bible passage again..but before any of that, pray the Holy Spirit will open the Word to your heart. God will take care of the rest!
Andrew- John has given you great advice. Thanks John!
Jesus is being the example of what He wanted His disciples to do and then teach others. it is not about us. We live in a society that teaches it is all about us but it really isn’t. Happiness isn’t in getting but giving. I am more comfortable in the role of serving. I don’t really like the receiving end although I think sometimes we are put in the receiving end to give some one else a chance to be the giver or server. I think it is very humbling to be in the position of needing someone’s help or service. This passage also teaches me that we are to serve ALL not just certain people. We should not be prideful about who we serve. It is easy to love the lovable and its hard to love the unlovable. This would apply to serving people too. It is easy to serve the appreciative person but hard to serve the person who isn’t . We need to remember why and for who we are serving and then service to all would be a little easier. Keep looking up.
Nice job Laura! You are a picture of hospitality and show your love for people in how you welcome them in our home, and make them feel special outside the home, too! Thank you for all you do to serve me and our girls (and my mom!) every day! I love you!!
Jesus makes sure there is little chance of any mistake about what His plans and feelings about being His disciple means. (Yet there are denominations that believe that he meant literally they specifically should wash each others feet on a scheduled basis)! His other teachings make it crystal clear…if you are going to be a “great” person in the measure of God in heaven, you must be a “lowly” person here. He who would be first (most important) must be last (least important), and as he shows us here, the greatest of all is not above doing the dirtiest and lowliest of tasks in service to demonstrate a love of others! If our desire is to prove how much bible we know, or how “holy” we are, then we have no part of Jesus–he WROTE the bible, then lived it, and still never “hammered” anyone with it! Want to be a part of Christ; want to show Jesus to a lost and dying world? Be ready to do whatever the situation calls for, not to be noticed or to be commended, but because you see people as Jesus does; lost and needing to be saved, and even in our church family, hurting people needing to be helped and comforted. As much as I do love to serve, as I’ve grown in the Lord, I don’t like to be noticed, and even less to be commented about it…to me it just feels like it’s always, in all places the right thing to do to be helpful, and yet I still feel as though compared to the service Christ has done for me, I’m a lazy slug! That’s not being immodest, it’s really how I see it. I have work to do to serve my family, serve you guys, and to be a good steward for my employer, because I have been equipped to do just that!
You and Laura do a great job serving and I am so thankful for you guys…