(by pastor Jean)

“If you know these things blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:17; MEV). What things was Jesus referring to in this verse? He had just finished washing the disciples’ feet and had encouraged them to follow His example (John 13:15). He had been teaching them humility and servanthood. Jesus said that He came to serve (Matt 20:28, Mark 10:45) and also said that, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:43; MEV). Everywhere we go we should be looking for opportunities to humble ourselves and serve others (whether it be in our marriages, families, at work, school, the marketplace or wherever we find ourselves each day). Jesus further said that when we serve others, we are actually doing it for Him, “Truly I say to you, as you have done it for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you have done it for Me” (Matt 25:40; MEV). In all of the above passages Jesus is showing that we serve through acts of kindness and of course this is how we show love to others. There are many examples of servants in the Bible but John the Baptist stands out to me. He spent His ministry preparing the way for the ministry of Jesus saying, “He must increase but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Going back to our very first verse above Jesus said if we show humility and serve, we will be blessed. The word used for “blessed” means having a joy that nothing can remove. Be blessed today!