A Perfect Servant - Jesus And Peter

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

John 13:7-8

During the American Revolution, a stranger in civilian clothes rode past a group of exhausted soldiers who were repairing a small barricade. Their leader made no attempt to help them but instead stood by, barking orders.

When the rider asked the leader why he wasn’t helping his men, he retorted with great dignity, “Sir, I am a corporal!” The stranger apologized, dismounted, and began helping the soldiers himself. The job done, he turned to the corporal and said, “Mr. Corporal, next time you have a job like this and not enough men to do it, go to your commander-in-chief, and I will come and help you again.”

With that, General George Washington mounted his steed and rode off.

Jesus taught his disciples a valuable lesson about servanthood shortly before his arrest and crucifixion. He did something that the Jewish people considered demeaning even to the lowliest servant: He washed their feet.

Though all twelve felt uncomfortable at having their Master wash their feet, Peter finally protested: “No! You will never wash my feet,” but Jesus wanted to teach Peter and the other apostles an important lesson, and Peter’s protests weren’t going to stop him. “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me,” he warned.

Peter yielded and allowed his Master to be his Servant.

When Jesus had finished washing the disciples’ feet, he put on his robe and asked them if they understood what had just happened. When they met his question with silence, he explained that he had set an example of how they were to treat one another when he had returned to his Father.

This example is for us, too.

God put us on earth to serve others, even those we don’t personally know. Serving is a privilege because it builds up other believers and gives them a chance to see God’s love in action.