Compare Luke 7:45 with John 13:14-15 on serving others. Setting the Scene in Luke 7:45 • At Simon the Pharisee’s dinner, customary acts of hospitality were missing • Jesus highlights the omission: “You did not greet Me with a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing My feet.” (Luke 7:45) • A sinful woman supplies what the host withheld—lavish, humble devotion at Jesus’ feet Setting the Scene in John 13:14-15 • Hours before the cross, Jesus takes a towel and basin • He washes the disciples’ dusty feet, then explains: “So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:14-15) • The King kneels as the lowliest servant, establishing a pattern for His followers Common Thread: Humble Service • Both moments center on feet—symbols of the most menial chores • Jesus contrasts neglect (Simon) with wholehearted service (the woman) • He then models the very humility He commends, commanding His disciples to replicate it Contrasts That Clarify the Lesson • Social Status – Simon: respected religious leader, yet withheld basic courtesy – Woman: notorious sinner, yet overflowed with sacrificial love • Initiative – Luke 7: the woman acts unprompted – John 13: Jesus acts first, then directs His friends to follow • Audience – One scenario rebukes pride in a single host – The other instructs every believer for all time What Jesus Teaches About Serving Others • True love expresses itself in tangible, even messy acts • No task is beneath a follower of Christ when it meets another’s need • Service rises from gratitude for forgiveness (Luke 7:47) and from imitation of the Master (John 13:15) • Authority in God’s kingdom is exercised through giving, not taking (cf. Mark 10:45) Practical Steps for Us Today • Look for overlooked chores—cleaning, setting up chairs, changing diapers—and quietly do them • Offer personal warmth: a visit, a handwritten note, a welcoming hug • Meet physical needs promptly—meals for the sick, rides for the elderly, relief for the poor • Serve within the church body, but also in neighborhood and workplace • Keep motive pure: not recognition, but gratitude to Christ (Colossians 3:23-24) Other Scriptures That Reinforce the Call • Philippians 2:5-7—“Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus… He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant.” • Galatians 5:13—“Serve one another in love.” • 1 John 3:18—“Let us love not with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” • Romans 12:10—“Outdo one another in showing honor.” Final Takeaway Jesus measures greatness by the towel, not the throne. Whether correcting a proud host or cleansing His disciples’ feet, He calls each believer to heartfelt, hands-on service that reflects His own sacrificial love. |
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