Jesus loved his disciples to the end. He loves you to the end of himself. He loves you to the end of yourself.

What Jesus is about to do in washing the feet of the disciples reflects his total authority from the Father to declare us clean of our sin (vv. 3-5). He descends from the role of leader of the feast to the role of servant and washer of feet. He declares he is washing them clean of their sin, and explains that greatest is he who would be willing to serve the most. Christian humility is not about others seeing our greatness, but about others seeing Christ’s greatness through us. No matter your position or accomplishments, you are to serve those around you in such a way that they are shocked and are drawn to Jesus (v.16).

Furthermore, consider that Jesus loves you to the end of yourself. In verse 6, we read of Peter’s shock and resistance to Jesus’ intention  to wash his feet. But Jesus explains that unless he cleanses Peter, and indeed anyone, then there is no way to be free from sin and unrighteousness. Our righteousness is through and in Christ alone.

We often misunderstand this in two ways. We believe God is pleased in us if we’ve earned it through good works, or that he is pleased with us simply because we believe grace to be cheap. However, it is Christ’s works that allow God to be pleased with us, and it costed Jesus more than we know to die in our place. We, therefore, should emulate him in how we love and serve others.