85 Most Read Bible Verses---#84--John 13:15

John 13:15 (NIRV)

I have given you an example. You should do as I have done for you. 

Exactly what would you say is the example that Jesus has given to His followers?  Do you know enough about Jesus from your own study of the gospels that you can describe who He was and what He did for His followers without depending on someone else to describe this for you? 

When I rededicated my life to Jesus and wanted to get active in some kind of service to Him, I was asked to lead a college and young adult group in Fort Worth, TX.  At that time I didn’t even have my own Bible; the young people bought me one that I still use decades later.  The first time I went into a Christian bookstore to find something that would help me teach something that would impress these folks, I stumbled across Bill Bright’s book, Ten Basic Steps Toward Christian Maturity (Campus Crusade for Christ International, 1965).  The introductory step (not one of the ten) was to learn about the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.  The gospels emphasize the spiritual aspects of Jesus, all His claims, all His “I am’s”, all His stories and teachings and commands.  But, who was He as a person, i.e. what was His character so that you can learn from and follow His example of how to live your life?

Mr. Bright emphasized four primary personality characteristics of Jesus (p. 27) that His followers need to follow His example:

1.   Compassion for others (e.g. Mark 1:40-42)

2.   Forgiveness of others (e.g. Luke 23:33-34)

3.   Zeal for God (e.g. John 2:13-17)

4.   Gentleness and humility (e.g. John 13:1-5, Matthew 11:29)

And, of course underlying everything that Jesus did, both from an earthly and spiritual perspective, was based on His love of God and His love of people.  He epitomized the two greatest commandments of life (Matthew 22:36-40). 

Now, the specific example that Jesus is referring to in this verse is His washing His disciples feet.  I have written before about teaching from John 13 in a Sunday School class years ago, wanting to wash a volunteer’s feet in class, yet “chickening out” that I regret to this day.  At that time I did not have the humility required to wash someone else’s feet.  Indeed, I have a note in my Bible from this verse that I heard or read somewhere that “I must grow in my humility and in my love for others”.  Humility for and love for others does not happen quickly, it is a process, perhaps a life-long process that you must grow into.  The theological term for this process is “sanctification”. 

What do you need to do to follow the example of Christ?  No, it is not necessarily washing someone else’s feet, but He is referring to you showing love and humility in your life that others can see and glorify God (not you…..Matthew 5:16).  Note that what others can see is not what you say, but what you do.