By Cameron Greenhaw
There are certain passages in Scripture that have had a profound impact on our lives. John 13 is one of those passages for me. To rightly apply this passage, however, it’s important to first understand what is happening in the text.
There is a clear shift in John’s Gospel between chapters 12 and 13. The first twelve chapters cover roughly three and a half years of Jesus’ life and ministry. Beginning in chapter 13, the pace slows dramatically, as the next seven chapters focus on the final twenty-four hours leading up to His crucifixion. These are Jesus’ last, intimate moments with His disciples—moments filled with deep emotion and intentionality. They would become memories the disciples would return to and reflect on for the rest of their lives.
At the opening of chapter 13, John highlights several important truths. First, Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to depart from this world. He was fully aware that His sacrificial death was imminent and that everything leading up to it was about to unfold. Second, having loved those whom the Father had given Him, Jesus loved them to the very end. Everything that follows in these chapters flows from that love. Third, Judas had already set his heart on betraying Jesus. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him and that others would deny Him and leave Him alone. He was not caught off guard by what was coming. Finally, Jesus understood that the Father had placed all things into His hands and that He was returning to the Father.
It is in this moment—when all eyes are on Jesus, waiting to see what He will do next—that He does something utterly unexpected. He gets up from the table, removes His outer garment, wraps a towel around His waist, and begins to wash the disciples’ feet. Foot washing was one of the most degrading tasks, reserved for the lowest servants. Yet Jesus willingly embraced this role, humbling Himself to serve others, much to the shock and discomfort of His disciples.
Jesus washed each of their feet—including Judas’—and then returned to His place to explain what He had done. He reaffirmed that He is their Lord and Teacher. And if He, their Lord, Teacher, and Messiah, humbles Himself to serve them, then they too ought to serve the needs of others. Jesus is not offering a kind suggestion; He is setting an expectation for those who follow Him to fill their lives with serving others.
While Jesus expects us to regularly serve others, He also gives us a promise: “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” The blessing does not come from merely knowing what we should do, but from actually doing it—humbly serving others from a heart of love, even when it requires self-sacrifice.
When I first truly understood this passage, it began to have a profound impact on my life. I started intentionally looking for ways to serve the needs of those around me. It wasn’t easy. I often had to sacrifice my time, money, preferences, and plans in order to benefit others. But the reward has been great—seeing the kingdom of heaven advanced through simple acts of service.
How are you doing at seeing the needs of those around you and meeting them on a daily basis? How willing are you to volunteer for the tasks no one else wants to do? If Jesus—our Lord and Savior—paused in the most intense moment of His life to carry out a lowly, practical act of service, how can we not regularly seek opportunities to serve others?
Serving others is what Jesus expects from us. It reflects His heart and His life to the world around us. When we serve the people in our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, churches, and communities, we bring the presence and character of Jesus into those spaces. Today and throughout this week, look for opportunities to follow His example: washing dishes, cleaning floors, taking on an unwanted task at work, helping a neighbor, serving in KidMin, ushering during a service, or meeting any number of everyday needs. Remember Jesus’ words: “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”
Closing Prayer – Jesus, thank you for leading by example to lovingly serve the needs of those around me. Show me today where I can serve others in any fashion and any area of my life to reflect your love and goodness to them. Help me to serve humbly and with excellence as my service ultimately serves you today. Amen.