John 13
September 29, 2022
“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (v3-5)
Jesus’ identity was so defined by His relationship to the Father, and the knowledge that He would be returning to the Father - that He was willing to wash the disciples’ feet. Jesus did not sacrificially serve in order to earn God’s favor; He sacrificially served because He already had God’s favor. And in doing so, Jesus gave us an example - not just of sacrificial living, but gospel-centered servanthood - the kind that is motivated by a deep, settled conviction of the Father’s love for us.
Father, I praise You for drawing me into relationship with Yourself, and revealing Your great love to me through Christ’s sacrifice. May I serve all those You have entrusted to me today out of the overflow of how Christ sacrificed Himself for me. Although it will not likely involve washing feet, may I embrace whatever service opportunity is set before me today, so that I “follow the example of Christ” (v15), while being thankful for the sacrifice of Christ.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
