John 13:1-17 NKJV Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 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. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Service. Not the most fun word out there. It usually means work, so why do it? Why volunteer to serve others? Well, there is precedent for it - Jesus did it. In today's reading, we are going to look at the example Jesus set for us by serving others. In this passage, two levels of service are demonstrated: 1. Jesus engages in the ministry he loves, that he was created for - teaching and preaching to others. (This is found in the chapters surrounding John 13, so it doesn't say this exactly. In fact, it doesn't say it anywhere in John 13, because he and those on his ministry team a.k.a. disciples are taking a break from ministry to relax and eat together.) 2. Jesus serves the people he is working with. Its finally time for a break, and Jesus chooses to serve his team during his downtime. Look for ways to serve God using your greatest passions. If you could create your ideal ministry in the church, what would you want to do? Would you sing on a worship team? Maybe paint a picture during the sermon? Help teach kids? Whatever you do, try to do it with a group. This group that you serve with could become your closest friends, as you serve God together. If you are already serving in church, what are some ways you can invest in those you serve alongside?