In John chapter 13, at the Last Supper of Jesus and his
disciples before Christ went to the cross, he washed his disciple’s feet. And
in vs.14-15, Jesus said – 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 also should do just as I have done to you.
Jesus wasn’t merely speaking about washing people’s physical feet. And he wasn’t saying to only wash the feet of those who are your closest companions. Jesus was giving an example of love. It wasn’t a transactional kind of love. It was love that gave without expectations of reciprocity. He served their need without asking to them to serve his need. Jesus wasn’t giving them something to them in order to get something from them.
His motivation wasn’t personal gain. His motivation was love. True love, not transactional love. And that’s where the rest of us often struggle. We serve, maybe even sacrificially, but we look for something in return. Recognition from those we help, being noticed by others who see our good deeds, praise from people who say we live right, whatever benefit we might get that leads somewhere for me. We instinctively see love as an exchange, and we use love as a trade for something else.
But that’s not what Jesus did, or said for us to do. In fact, Jesus didn’t ask for them to wash his feet. And he washed the feet of those who were about to fail him on his way to the cross. Including Peter, who denied him. And Judas, who betrayed him. Jesus knew this. The disciples had nothing that they could give Jesus in return for what he was going to do for them. And us. This is why we sing, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.”
Think about a loved one you served just because you loved
them. With no expectation of them “paying you back.” Like changing the diaper
of a small child. Or giving to someone in need who you’ll never see again. It
has happened in your life. But if you really think about it, it’s probably a
lot less frequent that you might have thought at first.
So, is there someone you’re serving that can’t pay you back? When we care for someone without looking for an earthly return, we are laying up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:20). We are following the new commandment of the new covenant.
In John 13:34-35, Jesus said – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. This is what we know as “the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).” It is what Jesus’s brother James called, “The royal law (James 2:8).” It is the law of love (Romans 13:8-10 / Galatians 5:13-14).
That’s the evidence of your discipleship – a love that is true, not simply transactional. A love that serves even when it’s not seen. A love that gives even when it doesn’t get. A love that counts the cost as worth it for Christ.
The Apostle Paul said the goal of our teaching is love – The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5). Has your love reached the “point of no return” with someone? Where you eventually gave up on them because you didn’t get back from them?
No one washed Jesus’ feet. He washed their feet and said they ought to do the same for each other. But then there is still a possible transactional case here because for the disciples, and maybe especially for us today, washing other’s feet could become “I’ll wash your feet if and when you’ll wash mine.” But the disciples had another example, from someone other than Jesus, only a few days before this supper, which demonstrated what Jesus said before he even said it.
You see, there was another supper before the Last Supper. And someone DID wash Jesus’ feet. And it cost her plenty. But she did it with no other motivation but love for the Lord.
In John chapter 12, Mary of Bethany took a pound of expensive ointment…and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. Judas protested, knowing that the money from the ointment could have gone into his pockets. His transactional heart was exposed. He didn’t have gratitude, he had greed. But Jesus said leave her alone. And speaking of the same event, Matthew 26:13, Jesus says – Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.
Mary wasn’t being transactional. She was giving worship and love, and Jesus says this will be remembered. If we know Jesus, we should follow Jesus. We are not burdened by having to fulfill all sorts of exacting rules and standards. We are called to fulfill the commandment of Christ, the law of love. If you want to wash the feet of others, if you want to show Jesus’ love so that people will glorify God, if you want to know Christ in a deeper, more fulfilling way, go and do likewise. Don’t demand that people help you in the way you want to be helped, or you’ll say they are unloving. Instead, serve people with true love, not simply transactional love. A love that serves even when it’s not seen. A love that gives even when it doesn’t get. A love that counts the cost as worth it for Christ. Amen.
