Key Theme: Humility & Servant Leadership
[Core Gospel Concepts: Love, Obedience, Nature of Faith]
It was at the time of the Passover Feast when Jesus broke the bread and poured out the wine and instituted the Lord’s Supper with his disciples in Jerusalem. Some other important events occurred during that evening at the table.
A dispute arose among the disciples as to which of them was considered to be the greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and yet they are proud because they think themselves to be gracious and good leaders. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves… But I am among you as the one who serves.”
Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. He knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and he knew that he had come from God and was returning to God; Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you… Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” Later that evening, Jesus was betrayed into the hands of the Jewish leaders to be crucified.
Optional Memory Verse: Luke 22:25-27: “Jesus said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and yet they are proud because they think themselves to be gracious and good leaders. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.”