Week 17 | Day 1 - New Testament Reading

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Today's Reading 

• John 13

• Proverbs 13:24–25

(Watch video about Wednesday through Friday of Passion Week)

Serving with Dignity

When Jesus and the disciples arrived at the Upper Room to eat the Passover meal, no servant had shown up to wash their feet, as household hospitality required. And no disciple offered to do the lowly, menial task, likely because each one saw himself as the “greatest” among them (see Luke 22:24). So, Jesus—of all people—stooped to wash their feet. Why? Because Jesus knew three truths:

“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God, got up from supper . . . and began to wash the disciples’ feet.” (John 13:3–5)

Ironically, the greatest Person in the room took up the basin and towel and washed the feet of the whole group. How could he? Jesus had a firm security in three areas: in His role before the Father, in His relationship with the Father, and in His hope of being with the Father.

The Lord knew that the Father had given all things into His hands, and therefore, Jesus lost nothing by serving. Doing the menial task did nothing to downgrade His true greatness and His future role in the Kingdom of God. Jesus knew that His relationship with the Father remained secure, so Christ served from the strength of that relationship. Jesus also knew that after His death and resurrection would come eternity with the Father.

Jesus could serve humbly because the source of His strength came from His inner assurance and security. He had no need to prove a greatness He already knew.

How can we serve in menial tasks without feeling insignificant? The same way Jesus did, for the same is true: our role, our relationship, and our hope (Rom. 8:1; Col. 1:5; 1 John 2:23; Rev. 13:8).

Jesus models that our security in God frees us to serve others with no loss of dignity. In fact, He defines serving as true greatness.

Question: Read carefully again John 13:3–5 and consider your God-given role, your relationship with God, and your hope. Which of the three helps you most to be a servant?

(Photo Above: Upper Room. Courtesy of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands)