Do As I Have Done for You
Month 10: The Upper Room · Family Worship
Today's Scripture
Read together: John 13:12-17
12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Memory Verse
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.””— John 13:34-35 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Micah 7; Nahum 1-3
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 277 of 365 — "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity?" and a warning to proud Nineveh.)The Heart of It
Jesus finished washing every disciple's feet. Then He put His garments back on and sat down. He asked them, "Do you know what I have done to you?" And He turned that moment into a lesson for all of us. He said, "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." Jesus was not handing out a new rule about bowls and towels. He was giving His family a pattern for how to live. The greatest Person in the room set the standard. And the standard is humble, hands-on love.
Today is the perfect day to gather as a family and worship the King who serves. Look at His very last line. "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." Notice that Jesus does not say, "blessed are you if you know these things." Knowing is only the beginning. The blessing comes in the doing. A family can read about footwashing. We can memorize the verse. We can even talk about it beautifully. But we still miss the joy unless we actually go and serve one another. So today is a doing day. All week we have watched Jesus in the upper room. He loved His friends to the end. He served from the floor. He washed what was dirty. Now He looks at our family and says the same thing He said to them: "Do as I have done for you." Let's worship Him tonight not only with our words, but with a towel.
Around the Table
Jesus said, "Now you do it too!" We get to love and help each other just like Jesus did.
Let's do it: Pick one person and do something kind for them right now — get them a drink, give a hug, or say "I'll help you!"
Jesus said the blessing does not come from just knowing. It comes from doing. Knowing about serving is not the same as serving.
Let's talk: What is one thing we learned this week in the upper room that we can actually do this weekend?
"Blessed are you if you do them." Jesus ties real joy to obeying, not just to understanding. He gave us an example so we would copy it.
Let's go deeper: Where is it easiest to know the right thing but not do it? How can our family help each other close that gap?
💬 Conversation Starter
Let's go around the table. Name one kind thing you will do for someone this week. Pick something real you can really do. Then we will check in and celebrate when it is done.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Jesus never asked His followers to do anything He had not already done Himself. Some teachers demand things from others that they avoid doing. Jesus was not like that. He led from the floor. When a leader does what He teaches, that is a strong sign His message is true and worth trusting.
For Dad · Go Deeper
Family worship reaches its goal not when the lesson is understood, but when it is lived. "Blessed are you if you do them." Jesus deliberately moves His disciples from spectators to participants, and that is your aim too. It is tempting to measure a devotional time by how well it went. Did the kids sit still? Did the answers come? Did it feel meaningful? But Jesus measures by whether the towel gets picked up afterward. So close this week with action, not just affirmation. Invite real acts of service and follow up on them. Obedience practiced together is how truth sinks from the head into the muscle memory of a family. And lead from the front. Let your children watch you serve your spouse and serve them, gladly, this weekend. Your example will preach louder than any lesson.
Draws on: Donald Whitney, Family Worship.
Let's Pray Together
"Jesus, our Teacher and Lord, You washed feet. Then You said, 'Do as I have done.' Make our family doers, not just hearers. Give us joy in serving each other this week, the way You served us. In Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus said the blessing is in the doing. So this week our family picks up the towel and serves.