Serving Like Jesus Served
Month 11: Living It Out · Loving Others
Today's Scripture
Read together: John 13:12-15
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.
Memory Verse
“Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”— Colossians 3:23-24 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Jeremiah 20-22
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 313 of 365 — Jeremiah says God's word is "like a burning fire shut up in my bones.")The Heart of It
On the very last night before He died, Jesus did something shocking. He was the King of the universe. He was the Lord of glory. And He got up from dinner, wrapped a towel around His waist, and knelt down to wash His friends' dirty feet. In those days, washing feet was the lowest, smelliest job. It was usually given to the most ordinary servant in the house. The disciples were stunned. Then Jesus told them why. "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" (vv. 14-15). The greatest Person who ever lived showed His greatness by serving.
This turns the whole world's idea of greatness upside down. The world says, "Be served! Get to the top! Make people do things for you." But Jesus says the truly great person is different. He looks for the humble job nobody else wants, and he does it with love. Serving like Jesus doesn't usually mean grand, famous things. It means carrying a sibling's plate. It means helping clean up without being asked. It means comforting the kid no one is sitting with. When we serve quietly and gladly, we look the most like Jesus we ever will. And here is the most amazing truth of all. That towel-and-basin moment pointed ahead to the cross. There Jesus stooped lowest of all to wash our hearts clean. We serve others because He first served us.
Around the Table
Jesus is the King, and He washed His friends' dirty feet! He showed us that the best way to be great is to help others.
Let's do it: Do one "Jesus job" before bed. Help clear a plate, fetch something for someone, or give a kind hug.
Jesus said, "I have given you an example." Serving like Him means we choose the humble jobs on purpose. And we do them with a glad heart.
Let's talk: What's a job at home nobody really wants to do? How could you surprise your family by doing it this week?
Jesus showed us that real greatness is humble service. He lived it out the night before the cross. That towel pointed ahead to the cross itself, the greatest act of serving there ever was.
Let's go deeper: The world says "climb." Jesus says "stoop." Where is God asking you to choose serving over status this week?
💬 Conversation Starter
What's the messiest, least-fun chore in our house?— Tonight, who's brave enough to do a little "foot-washing" and tackle it with a smile?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Critics sometimes say all religions teach basically the same thing. But no other founder of a major religion knelt to wash His followers' feet and then died for them. The God of Christianity stoops to serve. That is breathtakingly different. A life of joyful, humble service is one of the clearest signs that we follow a Savior who served us first. We can explain that with gentleness ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
Washing feet was beneath the dignity of even a Hebrew slave. It was typically left to a Gentile servant. So when Jesus took the towel, He was making a point. He did it fully aware that "the Father had given all things into His hands" (). He was showing that true authority expresses itself in self-giving love, not domination. This is the heart of biblical fatherhood and leadership. The world tells men to lead by being served. Jesus leads by serving. Your children will form their picture of authority by watching how you use your strength at home. Ultimately, they will form their picture of God the Father that way too. So ask yourself honestly: do you serve your wife and kids, or expect to be waited on? The most powerful discipleship moment you'll have this week may be a basin and a towel. It may be cleaning up a mess no one expects you to touch, and doing it with joy. Lead them down by going lower yourself.
Draws on: Tony Evans, Kingdom Man.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that Jesus, the King of everything, knelt to serve. Give us humble hearts that look for ways to help, especially the jobs nobody wants. Let us serve our family and friends with joy, the way Jesus served us. In Jesus' name, amen."
Real greatness wears a towel. I look most like Jesus when I serve.