John 13:12-17, Foundations for Christlike Service

Jesus drew a second lesson from His act of footwashing, namely, the lesson on humble service. Four foundations/principles for christlike service emerges out of Jesus’ words: 1) a proper view of Jesus as Teacher and Lord (Respect), 2) obligation to humble service (Obligation), 3) imitation to Christ as the will of God (Imitation), and 4) action as the intent of Jesus’ lesson (Action). Humble service is difficult, but with the foundations the Lord lays down for us, we are driven to humble ourselves and do the hard thing in doing good unto others. May the Lord make us into humble servants in the likeness to Christ.