What Jesus Did : John 13:12-15 - Do As I Have Done to You!
by Phil Ware
Do As I Have Done to You! - John 13:12-15
Jesus finished washing their feet. Then he put on his clothes and went back to the table. Jesus asked, "Do you understand what I did for you? You call me 'Teacher.' And you call me 'Lord.' And this is right, because that is what I am. I am your Lord and Teacher. But I washed your feet {like a servant}. So you also should wash each other's feet. I did this as an example for you. So you should do {for each other} like I did for you. (ERV) Full Text
Key Thought
Jesus didn't just teach with words. His life was a conscious example lived before his disciples and recorded in the Gospels for us. Jesus' life teaches us two crucial truths: 1) how God would live as a human and 2) how we should live as humans. Our challenge is not just to know the words and deeds of Jesus' life. We need to understand those words and deeds as something from God as he lived among us and then to incorporate those words and deeds into our own lives. Jesus' life calls us to follow in his steps!
Today's Prayer
Father, I thank you for the many truths that Jesus taught and the many deeds that he performed. Help me move, dear Father, from knowledge and admiration to obedience and emulation. Have your Son's character and compassion come alive in me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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It was almost time for the Jewish Passover festival. Jesus knew that it was time for him to leave this world. It was now time for Jesus to go back to the Father. Jesus had always loved those people in the world who were his. Now was the time Jesus showed them his love the most. Jesus and his followers were at the evening meal. The devil had already persuaded Judas Iscariot to turn against Jesus. (Judas was the son of Simon.) The Father had given Jesus power over everything. Jesus knew this. Jesus also knew that he had come from God. And he knew that he was going back to God. While they were eating, Jesus stood up and took off his robe. Jesus got a towel and wrapped the towel around his waist. Then Jesus poured water into a pitcher. He began to wash the followers' feet. He dried their feet with the towel that was wrapped around his waist. Jesus came to Simon Peter. But Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, you should not wash my feet." Jesus answered, "You don't know what I am doing now. But later you will understand." Peter said, "No! You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "If I don't wash your feet, then you cannot be one of my people." Simon Peter answered, "Lord, after you wash my feet, wash my hands and my head too!" Jesus said, "After a person has a bath, his whole body is clean. He needs only to wash his feet. And you men are clean, but not every one of you." Jesus knew who would turn against him. That is why Jesus said, "Not every one of you is clean." Jesus finished washing their feet. Then he put on his clothes and went back to the table. Jesus asked, "Do you understand what I did for you? You call me 'Teacher.' And you call me 'Lord.' And this is right, because that is what I am. I am your Lord and Teacher. But I washed your feet {like a servant}. So you also should wash each other's feet. I did this as an example for you. So you should do {for each other} like I did for you. I tell you the truth. A servant is not greater than his master. The person that issent to do something is not greater than the one that sent him. If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.
-- John 13:1-17 (ERV)
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