Do You Understand?

John 13:12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 

Of all the things the disciples experienced with Jesus, the evening in the upper room on the eve of the cross must have been one of the most memorable.  Jesus' words and actions left a forever impression on the hearts and minds of these followers. He told them how much He wanted to be there with them, then He washed their feet.  When He told them He had done this as an example, it was more like the culmination of a life of examples of serving. It begins with a humility He had shown above all others. As He goes on to tell them that this would not be an easy example to follow: one would betray Him and they all would at times deny Him and His call to servanthood. But the call remained and still remains to this day: humble yourselves, submit to and serve the Lord; love and serve one another.  This is the way to a life of blessing.