See What Love

See What Love

John 13:1-5, NIV

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Setting the Scene

John begins his account of the Last Supper with a stirring prelude to all that is to come: Jesus “knew” and he “loved,” so he showed the disciples what that meant. The Lord was keenly aware of the shortness of time left in his mission, and he focused his attention on some lasting lessons he wanted to leave with those he loved. As important as it is to communicate love verbally, our actions highlight and communicate love in ways that cannot be fully expressed in words. Jesus would show his disciples the full extent of his love—first with a basin and towel, then on the cross.

The book of John recalls the overwhelming intimacy and life-changing hours the Twelve spent around that Passover table. The aroma of fresh-baked unleavened bread and lamb would have filled the room and awakened appetites. The Twelve gathered at the table with Jesus as the food was being served. Perhaps to one side of the room a basin had been placed along with water, and the men would have washed their hands in the ceremonial way required before the Passover meal. This had nothing to do with physical hygiene but with long-established rituals of cleanliness. Everyone and everything was in place for the meal.

John 13:3 shows that not only did Jesus know what time it was, he also knew who he was. Jesus was not confused about his identity or compelled to prove himself in that moment: “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God.” The betrayal, suffering, humiliation, and death he would soon experience were merely part of “returning” to God. Unless we stop to ponder the divinity of Jesus, we will not appreciate the profound gesture of humility expressed in what he did next. Jesus took off his outer cloak and wrapped a wiping cloth around his waist. His surprised men must have exchanged questioning glances as he poured water into the basin and then knelt at the feet of each disciple. He gently lifted their feet into the water, washed them, and then wiped them dry. The disciples were shocked; their Master was washing their feet!

Somehow this simple act of hospitality had been overlooked in the preparations. If they had been eating in Bethany, Martha would probably have seen to that detail and had a servant ready to wash the men’s feet as they stepped into the room. While the unintentional oversight showed a sense of equality among the disciples, it also revealed a lack of servant attitudes. The disciples had been known to spar verbally over who was the greatest, but there’s little evidence that they jostled one another for opportunities to serve. This faux pas provided Jesus with teachable moments he used to lasting effect. He demonstrated loving servanthood—seeing a need others missed or ignored and taking steps without being asked to meet that need. Loving servanthood in its highest expressions always does the unexpected.

Getting Personal

When was the last time you did something unexpected for others?

In what areas of your life have you learned what serving means? How do you practice those lessons?

Love as a feeling is simple, uncomplicated, and terribly fragile. It can be ignored or acted on, but the feelings themselves are not subject to our will. They come and go on a whim. Love as service is hard, complicated, and sometimes messy. Love as service is not always understood or necessarily appreciated. But serving love is an act of the will, a decision we make to express our value of others into action.

Talking to God

Look to Jesus for the perfect example of service that is extreme and unexpected. Ask the Lord to forgive your halfhearted gestures of service or for hidden longings for the thanks and praise of others for your acts of service. Ask him to help you follow him in serving creatively, even when no one notices.