When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. — John 13:12-14

So in yesterday's text, we discussed the remarkable resolve Jesus has to know all things about his disciples and still stoop to serve them by washing their feet. He knows everything they have done, and will do, and still stoops to serve them. And he does it genuinely, with love, not with anger, bitterness, and regret tucked away in his heart. He takes off his robe, grabs a basin, and washes each one's feet — including Judas's.

But now, in today's text, we discover that he demands they do the same. And this implies an application to us. That we are to do the same. Which is the rub of the text. Because let's be honest. It's hard to love some people in the church, isn't it? There are people in the church that we don't necessarily like or agree with sometimes. And yet Jesus tells us here that we must serve, especially when it's hard. That we need to serve the people in our church just like Jesus did. Jesus even selected someone who was going to betray him and still loved, served, and died for him. And in the previous text, John states that Jesus loved them all, including Judas, genuinely to the end (John 13:1).

Let me say this. There are so many people I know who have run from the church because they have been hurt by the church. And you know, I get it. People in the church do not always handle situations right. But that's how redeemed people act sometimes. They act sinfully. Their old sinful nature is exposed. And when they do, one way to admonish them is to serve them in love as Jesus did. Because even though leaving might be necessary if you haven't tried serving them first, then you've missed the opportunity to get in a last word that may have a future impact on their soul.

So church, go serve another believer in the body of Christ today. Do it from a motivation of pure love. Expect nothing in return. And if you really want to up the challenge, go serve someone in the church who has hurt you and leave a lasting memory of the God who stooped to serve.

ASK THIS:

1. How can we overcome our personal struggles to genuinely serve and love those in our church community, even when it's difficult or we may not necessarily agree with them?
2. In what ways can we actively demonstrate Christ-like love by serving others without expecting anything in return, particularly those who have hurt us or caused us pain within the church?

DO THIS: Serve someone in the church.

PRAY THIS: Dear Lord, help me serve others with a pure heart and love, even when it's difficult or they have hurt me, reflecting the humility and grace of Jesus. Amen.

PLAY THIS: I Will Follow.