He Did It First

Jesus 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. John 13: 4

The very familiar scene for all Christians comes to our minds and hearts once again today as we commemorate Maundy Thursday. The Lord of all lords and King of all kings…the Creator and Sustainer of life, takes the lowest position at His dinner party. The reason? To set an example for His followers…

“Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “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. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13: 13-17

He knew that His disciples would have no clue as to why He washed their feet. He knew they thought He was out of His mind for putting Himself at the level of a slave or a lowly servant. That is exactly, however, what Jesus wants us to emulate. He wants us to be servants. But, unlike any other earthly master, He would not ask us to do anything He would not do Himself. As the greatest of Teachers, He models the lessons Himself first. Therefore, He demonstrates what He requires us to become, by becoming it Himself first. And the demonstration didn’t end with the washing of the feet. He also shows us that the journey of the Christian life leads to Calvary… 

…and it all rests on love. The service He wants from us is the service inspired by the kind of love that He displays for us on the Cross. The love that is Him, for He is Love and without Him we would not know what love really is.

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4: 19

When we are in the midst of the difficulties of Christianity, let’s remember…Our Master, Our Lord, Our King, Our Teacher did it first…