To be a follower of Jesus'...

John 13:1-3 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;

Understanding what “Jesus knew” is essential to understanding what Jesus did!

Jesus knew:

• The time of His Father had come (vs. 1)
• He would “leave” the world (vs. 1)
• He would return to His Father (vs. 1)
• His Father had put all things under His power (vs. 3)
• He came from God (vs. 3)
• He was returning to God (vs. 3)

John 13:4-5 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Jesus' activity:

• He got up (vs. 4)
• He took off His outer clothes (vs. 4)
• He wrapped a towel around His waist (vs. 4)
• He washed their feet (vs. 5)

As followers of Jesus, we too must:

• Get up
  • Get up from our place of honor
  • Get up from our attitudes of pride
  • Get rid of our illusion that this is in any way about us
• Take off the bib
  • We've had enough to eat
  • We've been fed long enough – most of us
• Put on an apron
  • This is going to be dirty – perhaps humiliating
  • This is going to be time consuming
  • This is going to require something from you
• Wash feet
  • It's time to lend a hand and serve
  • It's time to use the gifts God has given you
  • It's time follow the example set by Jesus
  • It's time to be a true follower – a disciple – of Jesus'

To be a follower of Jesus you must become a servant.

Picture it, Jesus is down on His knees before His disciples;

• Creator of the universe wiping away the mud that He created
• Living Water poured out on the feet of the people
• King of Kings lowered to the floor
• The God of glory serving a sinful people

It is important to note that Jesus even washed the feet of Judas – who He knew would betray Him.

John 13:11 For he knew who was going to betray him

What does this tell us about our call to serve as followers of Jesus'?

To be a follower of Jesus you must become a servant.