¹⁷ “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Blessing is what God loves to do. And throughout the teaching of Jesus, He talks about blessings. Probably the most well known teaching on this subject is the eight-fold blessing of the beatitudes. The most surprising, counter-intuitive notion is that blessing doesn’t come in the way one might think. Who would have thought that blessing would come to those who are poor in spirit, meek or who suffer persecution? Here in the Upper Room, which of the disciples had anticipated Jesus’ teaching here that blessing comes to those who serve others, illustrated by Jesus in the washing of their feet? How, if we are honest, can one be blessed through serving others?

Serving others can be drudgery. Your service can be misunderstood, taken for granted, expected or unappreciated. Someone once said, “I don’t mind serving, but I don’t like be treated like a servant!” Yes, serving is hard. And by all observation the company of those who serve as Jesus served is a small fraternity indeed.

People serve for a variety of ulterior motives. There is the false show of humility. Conversely there is pompous serving for praise. There is “paying one’s dues, before the big reward.” But Jesus spoke of a genuine serving of others, putting their needs ahead of one’s own. Is this not what Paul wrote to the Philippians: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Phil 2:3–5).

Serving is the way of Christ. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28). And if we want to be like Christ, then we need to become those who serve like Christ. And if He could wash the disciples’ dirty, stinking feet, then is there any service too low for us, who are not greater than Jesus, our Master?

Think of the mother who lovingly serves her children by changing their diapers, cleaning up after them, patiently teaching. Or the man who visits his aging mother in a nursing home each week. Or the church elder who visits a church member in the hospital; the business man who jump starts a subordinate’s car; the individual who stops at an accident to help tend the injured.

Notice, Jesus says it is not just knowing about serving that brings blessing. It is the actual serving. The blessing is real, for in serving like the Master, you have the confidence that you are acting in His will and for His pleasure.

Lord, make me a servant so that I may know the pleasure of serving with You.