1 Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”
One can find many videos on the internet of how to do certain things. As a few examples, if someone needs to repair something on an engine but they don’t know exactly how to do it one can type in a few words into a search bar, scroll through a few videos, and they will have found a video describing in a step by step process what they need to do, as well as what not to do. Or if someone wants to try out a new cooking recipe they could watch a cooking show as a professional chef takes them through all of the necessary preparations to create that meal. The correct temperature, the exact amounts of ingredients, if something needs to be chilled or heated up and so forth.
What those videos do is teach by example, and an example is something that is representative of all such things in a group. Something that serves to illustrate or explain a rule or method. Also, something that serves as a pattern to be imitated, (a good example,) or a thing not to be imitated (a bad example.)
As you will read in a moment, Jesus has given us an example to follow. He showed us through His actions some qualities and virtues that we need to be filled with, just as He was filled with.
John 13:4-17 “He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
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.
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”
What did Jesus display to His disciples in the above passage? He showed them by His actions what it means to be filled with love and what it means to be humble. I want you to just picture this in your mind, what an amazing display of humility our Lord possessed. A King, washing the dirty feet of His people. Can you imagine a king in the world today leaving his palace, meeting, greeting, and talking with his subjects, and then grabbing a bucket of water and a cloth and washing their feet? But that is the kind of a King Jesus is. Humble. Meek. Loving.
As our Lord and King, Jesus asks us to do just as He did. He asks us to follow His example and for us to do the same as He did towards others.
If we are Christians we are servants of Christ, and to do that we need to follow His lead. He is our “video” that we can look to and find any information that we need. So are you filled with the humility of the Lord. Will you follow His example and do the same to others?
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 