Serving One Another
SERVING ONE ANOTHER
JOHN 13:12-20
In Jesus’ understanding, even a leader is a servant.
Jesus now takes his clothes again and resumes his place. The whole action suggests that it is, amongst other things, a vivid demonstration of his death, resurrection and exaltation. He laid aside his clothes as he lays down his life (10:11,15,17f.). He takes his clothes as he takes his life again (10:17f.), and he resumes his place as he returns to his Father (6:62; 13:1). The pattern is such as is described in Paul’s great “Christological hymn” (Philippians 2:5-11).
It is not, however, the theological movement which he wishes to make explicit at this juncture. It is rather the moral and social consequences. They rightly put him in a place of authority and yet he had done a menial service for them. How much more then should they be willing to serve one another! There is not much in any of the Gospels which is specifically referred to as “an example,” therefore all the more importance must be attached to this. Blessedness was promised to those who knew this—but on one important condition—that they did it. Jesus reaffirms that he knows that not everyone even of the Twelve will do this. The Scripture had to be fulfilled concerning the traitor, and his foreknowledge of this fact should help them to understand that he was the Messiah. Receiving them was receiving him, and was also receiving the Father.
Notes 13:13: Jesus is elsewhere called “Teacher” in 11:28 and “Rabbi” in 1:38,49; 3:2; 20:16. The idea of him as “Lord” is a prominent one in the Gospel and comes especially frequently in chapters 13 and 14. Rabbis could expect some acts of menial service from their disciples, and masters could demand them from their slaves. Here the rôles are strikingly reversed. 13:16: “he who is sent”—the Greek word apostolos (apostle) is used here only in the Gospel and in a non-technical sense. 13:18: “lifted his heel”—this either pictures a horse kicking back at a man or someone shaking the dust off his feet. 13:19: “I am he”—cf. 8:24. 13:20: this is what gives the work of the disciples such significance (cf. Matthew 10:40). Their mission from him is similar to his from the Father (20:21). For reaction to the Son being reaction to the Father, see 5:23; 8:19; 12:44f.; 14:7,9; 15:23.
For meditation The call to service (13:14ff.) is based on the fact that Christ first serves us, even to the point of dying for us. “Every disciple and every company of disciples need to learn that their first duty is to let Christ serve them” (Temple).