"The Form Of A Servant"

  Now before the passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.    ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...  So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, happy are you if you do them. John 13:1-17
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Today's message is just something that I noticed while reading John 13. In verse one it said, 'having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.' I've always read it with the idea of the end being His death or even eternity but this time through I happened to catch a phrase down at the bottom of the page in my footnotes. It said - to the end. Lit., to the fullest extent. What a thought! 'having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the fullest extent.' The fullest extent tends to suggest that that means He loves us with all the love possible. You know, "Big as the whole wide world!" or "To the moon and back!"

After making this statement it goes on to say that knowing what was ahead He got up and started washing the disciples feet. When He is all done He starts the explanation about why He washed their feet by confirming to them that He is their Lord and their teacher. By washing their feet He is fulfilling both those roles and being as He puts it, "an example, that you should do as I have done to you." He explains to them that because He is their Lord and their teacher He washed their feet to show them that He loves and serves them. He washed their feet to teach them by this example in humility and service because He is their Lord and their teacher. He demonstrates to them with this object lesson to show them that if He, their 'Lord and Teacher, has washed their feet, they also ought to wash one another's feet. For He has given them an example, that they should do as He has done to them.' And He, He loves enough to come to earth serve all humanity!  He is telling them with this hands on example, " ...that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

He is telling them that He is their teacher, their Lord, and that this is what its all about! Loving to the fullest extent! To them at this moment it is just another lesson from their master but for Him, because He knows what Judus is about to do, what is about to take place, it is the last chance He has to show them that this is what it is all about. Loving to the fullest extent means loving enough to serve.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking on the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8