Gene’s Daily Scriptural Postings

An Example for All Believers: John 13:1-17

Focus Passage: John 13:1-17 (NIV)

Following Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, the gospel of John tells us that Jesus shares why He did this. While one semi-obvious reason was to give the disciples a picture into how God’s character includes humility, John tells us that Jesus shares another reason.

In John’s gospel, as Jesus sits down after finishing washing the disciples’ feet, He first asks the group a question: “Do you understand what I have done for you?” but without even giving the disciples a chance to respond, Jesus continues by saying, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (v. 12-15)

John tells us in his gospel that Jesus modeled humility because He wants us to model humility. While the idea of washing someone’s feet is awkward, I doubt the level of awkwardness hasn’t changed much in the 2,000 years since Jesus told His followers to continue to do this.

But what I do know is that there are few ways we could more visibly show our humility towards another person than by washing their feet. When washing another person’s feet, a level of humility must be present in both people involved. Some people are self-conscious about their feet, and it takes a certain level of humility to let someone else touch their feet. Other people don’t mind having other people touch their feet, but they feel awkward about washing the feet of someone else. These people have the opportunity to display humility by actually bending down to wash the feet of someone else.

The foot washing example and instruction is something we all would benefit from incorporating into our spiritual lives. When we display the level of humility and submission that foot washing takes, it draws us together in ways that can be difficult to describe. Foot washing helps us remember Jesus, it helps us stay humble, and it helps us be united as a group of believers. Foot washing helps us be the people God wants us to be.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

Read this article on the web on it's official page: An Example for All Believers: John 13:1-17