by Pastor Mark Shupe
During all the chaotic events of the last week leading up to the death of Christ, Jesus had several intimate conversations with His disciples. In one of those moments, Jesus told them these words: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34)
Amazingly, Jesus would model His love for the disciples and for all of mankind that week in events that took place at the Last Supper, in the Garden of Gethsemane, and on the Cross. Today we reflect on the love Christ showed through serving His disciples by washing their feet (see John 13:4-15).
The washing of the disciples’ feet certainly was a crowning demonstration of love in action. Jesus had already told His followers that the greatest among them would be their servant and that even He, the Son of God, had come to this earth not to be served, but to serve (see Mark 10:43-45).
In this holy week, we would do well to pause and consider whether we truly are a servant of others. If we are to model the love of Christ, then like Christ, we are to focus our attention on serving rather than being served.
