If You Know It, You'd Better Do It

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John 13:12-20

12 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? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

 
 

Jesus’s point is simple:

If He, the leader, served His followers in such a humble way, then they, the followers, should expect to serve other people in humble ways:

16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him [John 13:16].

What Jesus says next is important:

17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them [John 13:17].

P.S. The reason Jesus foretells of Judas’s betrayal is so, among other reasons, the other disciples won’t think He made a mistake. After all, Jesus “chose” Judas along with the others (see 6:70). But this wasn’t a mistake—Jesus knew He was choosing one who would betray Him, but this is how it needed to happen: Jesus came to die for the world, and Judas’s betrayal is the means by which that could take place.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
How can you humbly be of service to someone—especially someone undeserving—today?