A Picture Of Servanthood - The One Year Devotions for Men on the Go

“No,” Peter protested, “you will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “But if I don’t wash you, you won’t belong to me.” John 13:8

At the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, people wore sandals everywhere they went, and their feet got very dirty. When visitors arrived at a friend’s house, it was the custom for one of the servants to wash their feet. It was dirty work, so it was reserved for those at the bottom of the social list. Jesus shocked his friends when he chose to wash their feet. After all, their Master should not be doing servant’s work. If anything, the disciples should have been washing his feet! But Jesus knew his disciples were going to be servants and that they needed an unforgettable picture of the type of servanthood they were to live out.

Peter didn’t understand what Jesus was doing, so he vehemently declared, “You will never wash my feet!”

Peter thought that protesting his Lord’s actions showed that he understood who Jesus was and who the disciples were. But he needed to be reminded that God’s ways are not our ways, and he also needed to see what being a true servant looked like. Jesus immediately put Peter in his place when he said, “But if I don’t wash you, you won’t belong to me.” It was a lesson Peter never forgot. This picture of his Savior, humbly serving, set the course for the rest of his life.

Jesus’ example of humble servanthood was an important one for the disciples to see, and it’s equally important for us to read about. It not only shows us that Jesus is the one who washes us completely, but it shows us that no matter how important we think we are, we should always strive to serve others.

Lord, thank you for your example of servanthood. Help me to follow that example in everything I do.