12 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. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet."
As believer’s in the Lord Jesus, we are under an obligation – it is our duty so to speak – to follow the example of our Master. What Christ has done we should not disdain to do. Our freedom in Christ was never meant to be a license for laziness and self indulgences. This ultimately results in slavery as sin always gains a foothold in a life when it is consistently allowed. The goal of freedom in Christ is loving service – eager to do what is good. Scripture tells us:
6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6 (NIV)
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Gal 5:13-14 (NIV)
In view of God’s mercy and compassion shown to us through Jesus, Paul exhorts us to the following high calling of sacrificial service:
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1 (NIV)
This, of course, followed on the heels of Paul’s doxology of praise to God:
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)
Jesus states in Matthew that service is the prelude to greatness and we are to follow His lead:
25 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt 20:25-28 (NIV)
“In the kingdom of God, service is not a stepping-stone to nobility. It is nobility.” T. W. Manson
The Wording Jesus uses in our verses for today both confirms and points to the fact we are to follow in His footsteps. The word translated “should” in verse 14 is from the Greek Word “Opheilo” which means “to owe, to be indebted.” Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible - New Testament Lexical Aids. The word “should” oftentimes in our day leaves us more with the impression of suggestion rather than obligation of which we oftentimes shun. This is not what Jesus means here. As His followers, He is our Teacher and Lord and it is our spiritual duty to follow – it is the highest way – it is the best way for our lives. The loving pattern Jesus demonstrates to us by the example of His life in the Scriptures is the best Way for every human. Jesus tells us:
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 (NIV)
This is not legalism rather love. Interestingly, when we begin to follow the path Jesus set forth for His followers to follow – acting according to His example through the power of the Holy Spirit it – our actions often turn from being motivated by duty to being motivated by desire. It is a high calling unearthly in its satisfaction and pleasure.
“To love God, to serve Him because we love Him, is...our highest happiness...Love makes all labor light. We serve with enthusiasm where we love with sincerity.” Hannah More