"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."

John 13: 14-15

This is one of my favorite verses about servitude, and it comes from one of my favorite stories in the Bible. This story is found in John 13:1-17, in which Jesus bends down in service to His disciples to wash their feet right before His death on the cross.

Oftentimes, I feel completely unequipped and overwhelmed by the thought of being bold and of stepping out. I've heard far too many times that it is HARD to serve others, but that it is sometimes just as hard to BE served. It is the dirty work that is sometimes just so difficult, so messy, so uncharted that makes it easy to get caught up in the fear of rejection or overstepping a boundary in service. Because of this, I've been struggling with the idea of servitude lately, of what exactly it means to get down and dirty for others. Despite all of this, however, I've come to remember that we've been given the world's greatest example of servitude in Jesus. I was incredibly encouraged this week by rereading the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet. Based on John 13:1-17, I wanted to highlight a few of the things I find especially poignant in what it means to serve and to have an attitude oriented towards servitude.

In case you haven't read it, below is the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet (found in John 13:1-17, NIV):

"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. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.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.He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”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.”For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 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.“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."

So what are a few qualities of servitude that we can take away from this passage? Why is it so darn hard to get "down and dirty" for others? What might make it easier to be feet-washers (or to even be more okay with getting our own feet washed by each other?)

Jesus is confident in His relationship with God.

In John 13:3, it says that Jesus "knew that the Father had brought all things into His hands." It is because of Jesus' identity in Christ that He serves with authority and boldness. He knows that God has His back through all things (including service.) This alone has been so useful to remember; recognizing my own identity IN God gives me the authority to step out for others (and to be served by others, as well.) We have been created in His image, and His image is so full of grace and love for us that we can be confident in knowing He craves for us to love one another in this way, too.

It is possible that, in not accepting service from others, we are being prideful.

Peter (and the rest of the disciples) initially object to Jesus' feet-washing; it's in our nature to feel as though we should be capable of doing things "on our own" or without help from others. I am absolutely a total control freak, so I can relate to Peter SO much when he goes to Jesus saying, "Lord, not just my feet, but also my hands and my head" in verse 9. I want God to do things my way; and the same is true for others serving me. In fact, when it comes down to it, I'd often rather just do it all on my own! But realizing that there is pride in refusing service and desiring to control our circumstances is an eye-opener for the ways that we accept (and carry out) service for others.

He has a plan for us....even when we can't understand it.

Just as verse 7 says, someday we will. It takes that continued, intimate relationship with Him, a continued feet-washing and being made clean by Him in order to accept His love and His grace, day after day.

Jesus makes Himself low.

In verse 15 it states, "for I have given you AN EXAMPLE, that you should do as I have done for you." Jesus knew that actions speak louder than words. He didn’t just talk about true humility—he showed it, embodied it, and acted upon it. Even though He's at the end of His days, He's thinking about His disciples, not about Himself. He could have easily handed off the foot-washing job to someone else, waited for someone else to do it, or not even done it at all. (In fact, if you know anything about feet-washing at the time that this was written, you know that it's pretty nasty...there weren't thick shoes and, oftentimes, people were barefoot and their feet were horrendously dirty and sore.) Instead of handing off the job, passing it up, or leaving it undone completely, He takes a stand and takes initiative, encouraging us to do the same....Even when it's hard, messy, dirty, and lowly.

Jesus' love is a love that goes "through the end."

Verse one of this chapter simply says, "He loved them to the end." His love for us is not a love that comes and goes. It is constant, unwavering, omniscient, and ever-present. Though we constantly fail Him, He never gives up on us, never forsakes us. Wouldn't it be incredible if we all loved each other like this? Through the messiness and the difficulty, if we chose to love and serve ceaselessly anyway? There's millions of other lessons to be gained from this passage, but when it all comes down to it, the beginning and the ending of servitude is simply this: unending love.

Love someone this^ way today. Love someone through the very end. Even when it's messy, even when it's dirty. Step out. Be bold, and be brave. You've got the heart of a lion inside of you, all because of the One who created it.