John 13

I was reading in John 13 and one particular verse stood out to me. I know the passage well, and have even preached it a few times.

1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 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.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Verse 9 speaks very clearly to us about 4 things that a servant must have.
1. A servant's feet
2. A servant's hands
3. A servant's eyes
4. A servant's heart

When you think about these 4 things, they seem so obvious. If you don't have a servant's eyes, you'll never see the needs of those around you. If you don't have a servant's hands and feet, you'll never do anything about meeting those needs. If you don't have a servant's heart, you'll never care enough to do anything even if you see the needs or you'll do it for the wrong reasons.

When you look at your life as a servant...which we all are if we are followers of Jesus...do you have these 4 characteristics? Unfortunately, many people have 1 or 2 of them, but not the others, so they end up never meeting those needs that are in front of them.

Here's a tough question that will bother many of us if we examine ourselves closely. How are you serving the Lord in your life? How are you serving others?