Jesus, Our Perfect Example

Scripture: John 13:1-17

“John 13:1   Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. John 13:2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, John 13:4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. John 13:5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” John 13:7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” John 13:8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” John 13:9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” John 13:10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” John 13:11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

John 13:12 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? John 13:13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. John 13:16 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 13:17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:1–17 ESV)