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The disciples were astonished by the actions of the Lord Jesus. Their problem was: their preconceived ideas. What they thought the Christ should be, what they thought He should do.

"Christ" - to them - would not take the place of the menial servant. When the Lord Jesus revealed Himself as a menial servant they were completely unprepared to deal with such a development.

Preconceived ideas. Then! And, now! They have always been a most serious hindrance. Both to understanding the Lord Jesus, but, also to understanding the Christian life.

This is the inevitable result, as all such ideas have been adversely molded and influenced by the attitudes and principles of the world, by its values and standards.

We must honestly acknowledge that fact. Then, we must also discipline our thinking to focus on the Lord Jesus Himself. We must make it our prayer and commitment that we will really know Him. Know Him as He actually is.

It is as we really do know Him, that we will be equipped and enabled to live the Christian life most effectively .

"So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down."

These words have special significance. These actions were not the expressions of mere symbolism. Not an attempt to excite the curiosity of the disciples.

This is actual and vital substance. The solid reality of the personality, character, and commitment of the Lord Jesus. Each aspect expresses a vital truth to us. The aim of the Lord is to inspire the genuine commitment of His faithful disciples. Then, and now!

“After He had washed their feet!” That fact first. How is it that we so often and so easily miss the significance of this vital principle. Here He actually lives it out in reality with the purpose of getting our attention focused.

"The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility" (Proverbs 15: 33).

Before honor is: humility! The Lord Jesus lived out that fact for all to see.

He said, "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted" (Matthew 23: 12). He taught it. He lived it. He expects it from all who claim to be Christians.

"He . . . had taken his garments." Note: it is the Servant who had faithfully served Who is then clothed with honor.

He sat down at His place at the table. His place! It was actually the place of humble service and the place of highest honor. That combination is essential.

We cannot have one without the other. This was true of the Lord Jesus Himself. How much more is it true of the Christian today.

He knew these disciples so perfectly. It is not too difficult to think of Him looking from face to face. Inviting their response to His question. Did they really believe that they knew what He had done to them?

Did they remember what He had said to Peter? "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter."

Peter, and probably all of the others, reacted adverse1y to those words. He felt that it was unfair to suggest that he really did not know what was happening at that time. That none of them could really comprehend this unexpected development.

Would they continue to insist on that level of response to Him? 0r, would they pause? Begin to think? Allowing the influence of His actions and words to really sink in?

Would they be willing to bring their preconceived ideas into the full light of His evaluation? Will we?

The Lord Jesus wanted them to listen to Him. To give careful attention to what He was saying. To think through those words as they illuminated His startling actions.

To think. Really think through the implications of these developments for them. Think carefully about the significance of all this for their relationship with Him.

Think! Many Christians are too lazy, or too apathetic, to think. They want to be spoon fed little bitesize pieces that can be swallowed without any effort on their part.

The Lord is not satisfied with that. He demands that we think! That we really do love Him with all our minds!

To follow Him requires that we take this seriously. He is not honored by blind unthinking responses. But by intelligent obedience to His Word. By thinking carefully about all He did, and does. All that He said, and continues to say. All that He requires.

Prayerfully, in devoted commitment, think the issues through. Allowing the light of His life and teaching to illuminate our minds.

The Holy Spirit cannot, does not, teach a lazy person. He is seeking to teach those who will diligently study. Listen. Think. Seek. Searching diligently to faithfully honor the Lord in lives lived to glorify Him.

The Lord Jesus is referring to their practice which had become the acceptable terminology. On a daily basis these were the terms which they regularly used.

There was, and is, a real danger in that. The habitual use of such terms could, and did, does, become an empty practice The words were and are used. But the content of the words was, and is, lost.

There are many who refer to Jesus as a great Teacher. Yet when it comes to the specifics of His teaching, they show no interest. In fact, their lives and conduct contradict the clear requirements of His teaching.

We call Jesus: Teacher! But what does that mean? That in all areas of His teaching we are eager and responsive students? Or are we like the disciples? We use the term. But the content of the word is dismissed as insignificant.

''Lord '' ''The Lord!" As we noticed earlier, Peter had real problems with this term. He could so glibly call Jesus: "Lord!" Yet in the same breath presume to tell Jesus that He did not know what He was talking about.

Many call Him, "Lord!" today. Yet their attitude to Him is identical with that of Peter. They are sure that they know best. He may be, "Lord!" But His Word carries no authority in the way they live.

Are we listening? He wants to know! Is He both teacher and Lord in our lives? In actual reality? Or, is it in name only?

"For so I am!" I am both. The Teacher and the Lord. This was stated by Jesus with strong emphasis. To reinforce the reality for the disciples. For us also. For them as for us, He is “The Teacher!” “The Lord!” He says so!

Not just one Teacher and Lord among other teachers and lords. Not even the most desirable among a number that are available to us.

He insists, for both the disciples and for us, He is The Teacher. The only one. He is "The Lord!" The only Lord. There is no alternative. None!

Are we really hear what He is saying to us? "You use these titles to describe your relationship to Me. I am all that. Not in name only. But in total and unique reality.''

We can no longer get away with the shallow definition of these terms. That may suit immature Christians. Those who would rather keep Jesus at arm's length. But as soon as we want to claim that we are serious about being Christians this must change. We discover that He insists on requiring us to live by His definition of these terms.

For far too long we have thought that we could conveniently control our relationship with Him. Now we discover that He insists on us allowing Him to assert His control. That we choose to submit to that control.

It is so very vital that we grasp this fact. That we hear Him saying to us: "I am all that you profess I am as I define those terms. Now that you know this fact, you must live in the full acceptance of this reality."

That, is what it really does mean to live the Christian life, as He defines the Christian life. Anything else is an empty and useless sham.

The Lord Jesus makes a very significant change in the order of the words. In verse 13 He said, "Ye call Me Master and Lord!" First: Teacher! Then, Lord! Man gives the priority to Teacher. Lord is in the secondary position.

Here, in verse 14, Jesus says, "I then, your Lord and Master!" There is no doubt. that He intentionally gives the priority to the fact that He is Lord!

This is far more than an unimportant debate about words. This has to do with the real situation. A fact which focuses and accentuates the attitudes of so many Christians.

For them, Jesus is first of all teacher. This enables them to listen to His teaching. To evaluate that teaching as "mature people"! To then decide which aspects of that teaching they may want to apply in their lives. They feel free to set aside the rest of His teaching as not really applying to them.

Having reached that point, they then accept the concept of "Lord" into their thinking. That is their concept of "Lord"! They will allow Him to be Lord in those areas where they have already decided that His teaching applies to them.

But what of those areas where His teaching does not apply! Obviously they do not recognize Him as Lord in those things. That is the practical attitude of many Christians.

The Lord Jesus insists that we must start with the fact that He is Lord. As Lord, He is also Teacher. All His teaching carries His authority as Lord. All of it!

Therefore we cannot claim to choose to accept what we want. To ignore the rest. He will not let us!

As Lord, His Word is always the essential requirement. For every Christian. He expected His disciples to live by that fact. He expects us to live by the same fact.

If He who is our Eternal Lord took the place of the menial Servant! Pause, think about the impact these words must have made on His disciples!. “Lord!” To them that meant One who exercised his position and authority to avoid menial duties. "Lord" and "menial service" were mutually exclusive as far as they were concerned. Because of His Words and actions this was the case no longer!

Their attitude reflected the position of the world. They were applying the principles, values, and standards of the world.

The Lord Jesus is not of the world! In everything He is in total and stark contrast to the world. He expresses and reveals the eternal, spiritual dimension. There He is the Lord! There He is also the Humble Servant. The Servant who never ceases to be Lord.

He reminds us of a most vital fact. The way up is always down! The one most willing to humble himself in menial service is the one who is most qualified to be promoted. The one who is reluctant to take the place of the servant proves how utterly unqualified for promotion he is.

These are the vital, central, and essential principles of His life and service. They are equally essential to the one desiring to live the true Christian life.

It is intriguing to observe the variety of mental and verbal gymnastics to which people will resort, especially when confronted with these simple words. Do they want to explain it? or, explain it away?

First, we must notice the obvious. The Lord Jesus meant exactly what He said. This means that those Christians who faithfully practice the ordinance of Feet Washing are right. They are right as far as they go.

"Ye also ought to wash one another's feet!" He said that. He meant it. But He was saying, and meaning, a lot more.

He did not wash feet simply to wash feet. He did so to reveal Himself, His true nature. To demonstrate His character, as well as essential elements of His attitude.

It is possible to wash one another's feet, for the wrong reason. With the wrong motivation and in the wrong attitude. Thus to be totally out of harmony with the Lord Jesus and His teaching.

We must start where Jesus started. With love! His love! The genuine humility of His love. That love is always expressed in genuine humble service. Always!

If a Christian is too proud to wash his brothers feet he does not understand the love of Jesus. That should be obvious. It should also be obvious that to wash your brother's feet with the wrong reason or motivation is equally unacceptable.

To wash your brother's feet is only the beginning. True humility in service must be the daily expression of the entire life. All that we have and are being totally committed to daily living by this principle.

If Jesus the Lord is always the Servant and He is! Then the one who would live the Christian life must always be: the servant. The servant of whoever needs his service!

This principle in practice invades every area of our lives, Nothing is excluded. All that we are and have continually being the willing expression of everything that Jesus was is says and does!

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."(Philippians 2: 5). That means that we will willingly live out His willingness to be the servant the slave! He reminds us that He did it. He expects us to do the same. He has every right to expect us to do so.

We will rejoice to wash one another's feet. Do so in love. As an act of praise and fellowship. Even as it means that we will be willing to live out the life of the slave. In His will! For His glory!

He Himself is the vital personal demonstration for us! The practical demonstration of this essential aspect of His teaching. As He reminded the disciples of this fact, this element of His teaching took on much greater significance.

The disciples were going to be confronted with this emphasis repeatedly. In every area of their lives and their walk with Him.

Paul wrote, "Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God'' (Romans 12: 2).

Far too many Christians are still “conformed to this world.” The example of the world sets the pattern for their lives. Everything that is in and of the world exerts the dominant influence on their thinking.

That relationship is completely renounced by the one committed to live the true Christian life. That person makes the Lord Jesus "the Example"! The only example! The specific pattern for every area and aspect of the life.

To live in that way requires real selfdiscipline. It takes diligent, careful attention to the Lord. To the study of His Word. With the prayer that the Holy Spirit will continually possess us and reveal Jesus to us. Enabling us to embrace and live by His example.

The Lord Jesus expressed this statement with very strong emphasis: "As I have done to you!''

This is not calling the Christian to act in a somewhat similar way. Not some vague likeness.

The Lord told His disciples. Look at what I have done. Take the closest notice of all that was involved in My actions. Make sure that you really do grasp the specific details. All of the contributing elements.

Now, act accordingly! Exactly as I did! That is what He requires. He leaves no room to make adjustments or modifications. "Do as I have done to you!''

He told the disciples that they had to accept Him as the exact pattern. They were to live by that pattern in every detail. So must we! In thought. In word. In action. An attitude and motivation. In everything.

That is what it means to live the true Christian life, the Spirit-filled, holy life. We see that in fact He was, is, the humble servant. His disciple must in fact be the humble servant. Not merely act out a role. Be all that He is!

Following the resurrection the Lord Jesus said to His disciples, "As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you'' (John 20: 21). In exactly the same way. The same mission. The same requirements.

Most Christians are not used to thinking about their lives in such terms. Yet the clear and decisive teaching of the Lord Jesus leaves us with no choice. This is the only way to live the Christian life.

"Verily verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord; neither he that is sent greater than He that sent him.''

The Lord Jesus requires us to give close attention to these words. That is the significance of His emphasis: "Verily, verily!''

This is His Word on a most crucial issue. “The servant is not greater than his Lord.” Take careful notice as to how this works out. First, in relation to the Lord Himself.

He insists that in the truest sense of the word He is a humble servant. "I am among you as He who serveth"(Luke 22: 27).

If He is servant, who is His Lord? There is a twofold answer to that question.

First, obviously He serves in obedience to the will of His Father. He emphasized that fact repeatedly . "For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me" (John 6: 38).

That is the expected explanation of this verse as it applies to Jesus. He obeys the Father. He is the Servant of the Father. Thus, Jesus as the Servant is not greater than the Father.

Within the context of these events the next question is, Whose feet did He wash? He presents Himself as the Servant of those whose feet He washed!

The implications of this are so extremely challenging. Jesus is saying, I am Lord, Yes. But I am also Servant. Your Servant! As your Servant I demonstrate to you this fact: True love has turned every human expectation inside out and upside down. I as your servant choose not to be greater than you!

The implications of this are so exciting. All that He was as a person was available to be expended for their greatest blessing and benefit.

Can we see the astonishing implications of all this? In His love He chooses to be our servant. To expend His all for us. In His estimate we are of the most amazing importance to Him!

He chooses to serve us as our servant. To bring the greatest possible benefit and blessing into our lives.

This is a most humbling truth. A most astonishing reality. Most Christians have not even begun to imagine that it could in any way apply to them.

The Lord Jesus is "The Example" of the true Christian life. He is the pattern for all that we are to be.

Therefore, if He is a Servant, we are also servants. In every sense that He is a Servant.

We are His servants. We accept the responsibility of hearing His Word. Of obeying His will. He is our Lord.

Then there is our relationship to one another. This is the area where most Christians have the greatest problem. Especially in the area of attitude.

It was because of this specific problem that the Lord Jesus said to His disciples, "I am among you as He that serveth" Luke 22: 27).

Why was that reminder necessary? "There was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest." (verse 24)

There are still so many like: “Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them" (3 John 9).

Paul focused on the spiritual reality. "For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake" (2 Corinthians 4: 5)..

Our attitude to each other comes under the searching scrutiny of the Word of God.

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12 : :3 ) .

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory (that is, through selfish ambition or conceit); but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (Phillppians 2 : 3).

Be willing to treat one another as being worthy of high honor. Higher honor than you know you yourself deserve. Do everything that you can to build up one another. To enrich the other person's life. Do it all in the spirit of humble loving service.

Paul expressed such humble loving service in these terms, "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved." 2 Corinthains 12 : 15).

"Be spent!" This was His genuine commitment of love, to give of himself in loving sacrificial service until there was nothing left to give!

That is exactly what the Lord Jesus did for us. He gave His all in love until there was nothing more to give. Nothing!

He did it out of love! Even for those who did not return that: love. That is the attitude of the true servant: I will serve you in love even though you do not love in return .

The Lord Jesus humbly lived out all that this teaching required. We see every aspect of it fully demonstrated in all that He is, as well as in all that He does.

He made this issue unmistakably clear to His disciples. This commitment of love was always to be the central and preeminent focus of their lives. So that as they saw Him, they would clearly see the distinct pattern for their own lives.

In His practical and personal demonstration we have the pattern for our lives. The only acceptable pattern. The only workable pattern.

It is as He is our pattern in all things that we are able to live the effective and victorious Christian life.

He had just told them "these things". That did not mean that they really knew them. He had told them many things which they had ignored. They were things which were dismissed as unimportant to them, because they did not fit in with the agenda of their lives as they had planned them.

That is so very often the case with us. Many hear, yet really do not hear. Their hearing of His Word is merely superficial. Casual. They are too preoccupied with other "more important things"!

"But the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" (Hebrews 4: 2).

"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (Hebrews 2: 1).

The Word of the Lord is the most valuable treasure that we have. We must receive it with enthusiastic commitment. Guard it. Study it. Do not drift away from it. But make it the central and essential part of our lives.

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth" (2 Timothy 2: 15).

Everything that the Lord says to us, He says so that we will do it. Apply it. His Word always requires an active and practical response from us.

Too often today most preaching and teaching fails to bring people to action. The word they hear may excite their curiosity, but not their commitment to act on it.

Too many see the Word as entertainment. Not as edification, by which they grow, both in maturity and fruitfulness.

"Happy!" Jesus expressed it in this way: "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work" (John 4: 34). "My meat!" That which deeply satisfies Me! Which gives Me real meaning and purpose to My life. Providing a deep sense of real joy and thrilling contentment.

Hearing do! That is the way of real and deep joy for us. Giving exciting meaning to our lives.

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man ... “

"And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man" Matthew 7: 24, 26).

Then we will be living out the exciting reality of the genuine Christian life.

Christian life is service. Expending our all for the greater benefit and spiritual profit of others in an attitude which expressed the Love of the Lord..